COUNCIL tax in Leominster is set to rise for the next financial year but praise has been given to a committee which worked to keep the increase as low as possible.

At last week's meeting of the town council, councillors agreed to adopt its budget for 2017 which will involve submitting a precept of £422,148 to Herefordshire Council for 2017/18.

This will result in a Band D charge of £118.40.

A report compiled by the council's finance and budget sub-committee stated that transitional grant funding from Herefordshire Council had been reduced from £35,986 to zero for the 2017/18 year.

The report also stated there had been a low level of house construction in Leominster over the past 12 months, less than projected by Herefordshire Council's adopted Core Strategy.

The increase for the year in monetary terms for those living in Band D properties is £8.91 – which is 8.14 per cent.

However, town clerk, Paul Russell, said 78 per cent of homes in Leominster are in the A, B or C band and warned against using percentages as a measurement of the increase, stating it was not 'fair' and did not make sense.

Councillor Felicity Norman said: "I think we all know we are a pretty low-paid area but I'm absolutely astonished you have managed to do this given we have lost a massive proportion of what we had.

"I really am very impressed you have managed to keep this as low as it is. It's a huge achievement and congratulations to all those involved in this. I am certainly happy to support it."

The Mayor of Leominster, Councillor Angela Pendleton, added: "I know the sub-committee has worked extremely hard on this. It has not been an easy task but it's an excellent solution and thank you to those who are on it."