WYCHAVON District Council is planning to increase its part of the council tax by 2.5 per cent.

The increase, which is the same as last year, will take council tax for a band D property from £89.50 to £91.74.

Under the Government's new local authority funding system, Wychavon's assessed spending needs are up from £10.6m to £14.6m and grant spending is up by 6.3 per cent, or £378,000.

But managing director Sid Pritchard said if the council decided to spend at the level set out by the Government, residents' council tax would have to be doubled.

"When you look at the figures in pure cash terms the picture gets worse," he said.

"While the assessed need to spend is increased, reflecting the costs of providing services in rural areas, the actual cash support from grants and business rates has only gone up by 2.86 per cent.

"We thought we would only get 2.5 per cent so we are £22,000 better off, although we only spend £10.6m to deliver good services."

Council leader Malcolm Meikle said that Wychavon would almost certainly maintain its policy of targeting the council tax increase for its own services at 2.5 per cent, while still improving services.

At a meeting of the council's executive board, the officers gave members their suggestions on how next year's budget money should be spent.

Recommendations included CCTV in Abbey Park, Evesham, Lido Park, Droitwich, and Abbey Park, Pershore, and skateboard parks in Evesham and Droitwich.