A SMALL increase in council tax of just seven pence per week for the average Band D home, which is equivalent to £3.81 per year, has been agreed by West Devon Borough Council to help protect frontline services.

The council is facing a budget gap of around £304,000 for 2014/15, due to a cut in funding from central government with a further reduction in the following year.

At a meeting of the borough council on Tuesday, councillors voted to increase the West Devon share of the council tax for an average Band D property to £204.50 for the coming financial year – a rise of 1.9%.

The councillors decided not to accept the Government's offer of a Council Tax Freeze Grant which is equivalent to a one percent increase in council tax — just under £43,000. 

Cllr Philip Sanders, the leader of the council, said: 'Our aim is to secure the future of services to the public. These have to be funded year on year but the money being offered by the Government is only guaranteed for two years and is not adequate.

'If the council accepted the Government's freeze grant the impact would be felt indefinitely and we have to consider the longer term.'

Savings of more than £381,000 were also agreed for 2014/15. 

Ground-breaking plans are already underway to save £1.3- million a year by 2016 by adopting the latest technology and developing a new way of delivering services with a smaller workforce. 

By 2017/18, West Devon Borough Council will have had to find savings of £2-million from a budget of £7.8-million.

Cllr Sanders added: 'We recognise that even the smallest increase to council tax bills is regrettable at a time when many family budgets are being squeezed.

'However, in these difficult times we are working hard to do our best for residents and businesses.

'For example, we are continuing to lobby government over the funding inequality between rural and urban councils — a gap of more than £170 per resident!'

The council tax rate charged by Devon County Council, which makes up the greater proportion of residents' bills, along with those charged by the fire services and police, is due to be set today (Thursday).