WYRE Forest residents could see an increase of 2.5 per cent in the district council element of their council tax this coming year.

The proposed package put forward at Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet meeting would see a £4.37 increase for the Band D council taxpayer, taking the figure from £174.66 to £179.03.

Cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, Councillor John Campion, said he was delighted to put forward a recommendation which would see the lowest council tax increase in Wyre Forest for the second year running.

The package, recommended by the Conservative cabinet, includes £180,000 to improve public toilet provision and £170,000 for CCTV cameras in Stourport and Bewdley.

Funding has also been allocated to complete Kidderminster's war memorial refurbishment and £100,000 to make environmental improvements, in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, in Bridge Street, Stourport.

Mr Campion said: "The package the Conservative cabinet has proposed provides stability to the people of Wyre Forest, while at the same time, providing more and more quality services.

"We pledged to curb the irresponsible increases from the past and that is exactly what we are delivering on - council tax increases below the level of inflation."

Further recommendations, made at last month's cabinet meeting, included funding for providing extra parking spaces over the next three years. Funds would also be set aside for a new teen shelter.

The suggested figure will be subject to the scrutiny process before the council tax is set on Wednesday, March 1.

Value-for-money rating 'says a lot'

SERVICES provided by Worcestershire County Council have been praised by Government inspectors.

The council, which was ranked as "excellent" for its performances last year, is one of the few authorities across the country to claim four stars and said to be "improving well" following an inspection carried out by the Audit Commission.

The county council is also the only one in the country to gain the top score for providing value for money services in the new comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) scheme.

The CPA is seen as a harder test for local authorities and rates the quality of services - including education, social services, libraries and leisure - and use of resources.

It also looks at the authority's "direction of travel" which indicates whether it is improving or if standards are falling.

Twelve out of 34 county councils nationwide, including Worcestershire, received four stars from the Audit Commission, compared to 17 last year, who gained "excellent" status under the old system.

The council's chief executive, Rob Sykes said: "We have passed the harder test and that is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of staff throughout the authority.

"We are the only county council to get the top score on value for money and that says a lot."

Hard-up county seeks extra to avoid key cuts

WORCESTERSHIRE County Council will be seeking an extra £42.76 from Wyre Forest council tax payers in the coming year as it tries to stop key services falling under the axe.

The recommendation to increase council tax for 2006/2007 by nearly the maximum permitted under the Government's cap comes as the county struggles to make cutbacks totalling £10 million to help balance its books.

The increase would see a Band D household's tax burden rise from £857.03 to £899.79, added to which would be the levies of Wyre Forest District Council and the police and fire services, as well as any parish precepts.

A further £3.5 million efficiencies must also be found, however, on top of the £6.5 million already identified this year to prevent a reduction in key county council services, including social care, roads maintenance, street lighting and libraries.

The news comes only a fortnight after the council received top marks for value for money in an Audit Commission report.

Councillors must now find a way of delivering the same high standard of services for less financial outlay.

Leader of the council, Councillor George Lord, said: "The outlook is grim.

"We get top marks from the Audit Commission for value for money and we get punished for it by getting less grant from the Government. It's disgraceful.

"But whatever we're given, we should make the best of and that's exactly what we shall do.

"We have a proven track record of making efficiency savings over the years and we're considered ahead of the game in this field."

The county council will discuss its budget proposals with its key partners, such as businesses, parish councils and unions.

The cabinet will make its final recommendations on February 10 before the full council makes a decision on February 17.