Council tax across Central Bedfordshire is set to increase by 2.95 per cent overall.

The average increase will comprise of residents in the north of the district, the former Mid Beds area, seeing their household bills go up 3.5 per cent, and those in the south seeing a 2.34 per cent increase.

The Executive Committee meets this week to agree to the new charges.

A report to councillors states: "There are a number of considerations relating to council tax – the council tax base, the level of proposed increase and harmonisation.

"Central Bedfordshire does not fare as well as other local authorities on formula grant and consequently has a greater dependency on council tax.

"The draft budget put forward an overall council tax increase broadly in line with the formula grant increase and the increase in unitary authorities nationally.

"The final council tax inc-rease is marginally higher at 2.95 per cent, which will enable resources to be protected to maintain the authority's highways, which is essential given the
exceptional recent weather."

It added: "Central Bedfordshire has experienced some significant pressures in 2009/10. In part some of these have been as a consequence of the construction of the authority's first budget. It is essential to make allowance for this and base adjustments have been made."