THE average council tax bill in Herefordshire has topped £1,000 this year. County councillors have voted unanimously for the 4.7% rise first outlined by the Hereford Times in January.

With parish, police, and fire service precepts added on, the average - or Band D - bill breaks the £1,000 barrier.

This sum stays within government guidelines to stop the council being capped, but does little to ease the council's cash troubles.

Councillors meeting to set the rate last Friday were told of significant budget pressures facing the council over the coming year and tough times toward the end of the decade.

In December, the Hereford Times reported the council as getting £125 million from Whitehall to help cover its operating costs over 2006/2007.

The grant, made up of two parts - council services and education - effectively means a 2.4% rise on last year's funding for the former and 5.4% for the latter.

But council leader Councillor Roger Phillips told members that the rise did little to ease the squeeze on council cash.

Though roughly what was expected, the sum puts Herefordshire among the lowest funded authorities of its kind in the country.

The settlement, said Coun Phillips, was not enough to meet major spending pressures, especially on social care, transport and waste management.

Cabinet has already been told that at least £3 million is needed to keep current service levels going and the council must make £1.6 million in so-called efficiency savings.

Another £4.8 million of less immediate budget pressures is also included in spending plans.

The council shaved £2.5 million off its operating costs last year to meet Whitehall savings targets.