BROMYARD Town Council plans to increase its local tax by just 65p a year for the average home.

The council's budget plan includes the smallest rise in its tax for approaching forty years.

At a full meeting of Bromyard and Winslow Town Council it decided on a 0.38 per cent rise for the average Band D home. It is the lowest rise since the council was formed in the early 1980s.

It would take the current annual Band D charge from £171.05 to £171.70p. That figure could even go down a little, if the council finds there a more Band D homes in the area than there were the last time the budget was set.

The council wants to raise a total of £240,000 next year. It wants to set aside money for community schemes, climate change and a tourism study.

Mayor Roger Page said: "We have sound finances and sensible reserves." The council had worked "diligently" to cut costs and he praised finance chair Mark Franklin and town clerk Karen Mitchell.