MEMBERS and senior officers at Malvern Hills District Council are hailing the success of a long-term budget plan which has enabled them to make this year's Council Tax increase one of the smallest in the country.

Final stages were put in place at last week's council meeting when the authority imposed a four per cent rise for the coming 12 months. Had it not been for an increase in employers' National Insurance contributions imposed by the Government, the increase in community tax would have been an inflation-only one.

In contrast Worcestershire County Council and West Mercia Police Authority have increased their demands on Council Tax payers by 13 per cent each.

Malvern's assistant chief executive, Steven Lees, said: "The fact is that the district council's rise equates to only £4.03 on an average Band D property and could not have been smaller in the circumstances. The actual tax paid on such a property is just £104.79."