COUNCIL tax rises in Worcestershire are likely to remain below five per cent next year following a £69.7m Whitehall contribution to local government.

The Government's extra cash, up 3.8 per cent from last year, should ensure that most councils in the county are able to keep rises relatively low. Any that goes above five per cent risks being capped.

Under a formula which takes into account factors such as population, number of visitors, employment levels and low earners, Worcester City Council has received 4.3 per cent extra to £7.7m; Wychavon will get a 6.7 per cent increase, to £6.8m; Malvern Hills an 8.1 per cent rise to £4.7m; and Wyre Forest an 8.6 per cent rise to £7.3m.

Labour's Worcester MP Mike Foster said the extra money for the area was good news for taxpayers.

He said: "Worcestershire has faired reasonably well and in fact only four shire counties have got a bigger increase than us.

"This is good news for council tax payers who once again will not have to face high council tax increases."

But not everyone was quite as happy about the deal they had been given.

Worcester City Council leader Stephen Inman said: "Our priority was to raise the city council part of the tax by just 2.5 per cent.

"We are still on course for that with this Government settlement but we are once again disappointed that Worcester has received one of the lowest grant increases in the county.

"We argue that because we are main county town we should get more than others.

"As with other councils, we have been given more responsibility this year. But this is not matched with Government spending.

"It is too early to say how the figures will affect services in Worcester city. We are looking at that now," Coun Inman said.

Councillor Clive Holt, a resources board member for Wychavon District Council, had similar views.

He said: "It is quite a reasonable settlement but not great in light of extra services we have to provide.

"For the last six years, Wychavon has pursued a policy of holding increases in council tax to 2.5 per cent, and I can't see that being any different next year."

The police and fire services are also given a settlement.

This year West Mercia Police will get a 3.2 per cent rise, taking Government funding to £112m, while Hereford and Worcester Fire And Rescue Authority will receive 4.4 per cent, up to £10m.

Martin Reohorn, director of finance at the authority, said: "It is not a spectacular increase but it is not going to cause significant problems either. I can't see much of an impact on current services."

Malvern Hills District Council declined to comment and Wyre Forest District Council was unavailable for comment.

West Mercia Police Authority did not want to comment, but said that the settlement would be discussed on Tuesday.