KENNET District Council is proposing a Council Tax rise of five per cent. A five per cent rise would be an extra £5.72 a year on a band D bill. The current bill is £112.23.

The five per cent rise was recommended by a majority of councillors at a special meeting of three committees at Kennet on Tuesday. If a five per cent rise is agreed it will mean taking £257,780 from the council's balances.

With a 9.9 per cent rise the council would take £62,630 from balances and result in an extra £10.92 a year on a Band D bill.

Kennet's budget reduction sub-committee had recommended a 9.9 per cent increase, which would likely lead to the council being capped by the Government.

Council leader Chris Humphries, a member of the budget reduction sub-committee, said: "I had to advise my group (the Conservative group) to go for a five per cent rise, we can't afford the risk of being capped.

"If we were to challenge the Government with a rise above five per cent it could cost us double in reissuing bills."

Coun Tony Duck, also on the budget reduction sub-committee, backed a 9.9 per cent rise.

He said: "Although 9.9 per cent sounds a lot it's actually 21p a week on a Band D property so the impact on the ratepayer is very small."

Liberal Democrat councillors also voted for 9.9 per cent.

Labour councillor Margaret Taylor voted for a five per cent rise.

She said: "Thankfully Kennet is in the position of having raised £250,000 on its investments so we can legitimately keep the increase down to five per cent."

The final decision on the Council Tax rise will be made by a meeting of the full council on February 22.