SEVERAL desirable projects have had to be shelved by West Devon Borough Council to allow the borough to achieve a council tax increase of less than five percent, councillors were told last week. Cllr Dick Eberlie, chairman of the council?s policy committee, said the council had been forced to make tough decisions on its budget because central government had chosen to ignore warnings that it faced a cash crisis. The council tax demand from the borough for an average band D property will be £158.14p, an increase from £7.44 on last year. The rise, which will amount to 14p a week more on bills, was agreed at last week?s meeting in Okehampton. The Liberal Democrat members on the council adopted a policy of a bloc abstention from the vote. Cllr Eberlie said: ?We have taken some hard decisions. We have agonised even more these past few months than in earlier years. We have generally been depressed by the things we have been obliged to cut, shave, reduce or lower, much against our will. ?We have been frustrated about the initiatives and desirable projects we have had to set aside. ?We are still able to take some important initiatives ? even if they are fewer than we would wish.? Cllr Eberlie said even so, with a total budget of £6.8-million for 2005/2006, the council had ?ambitious and admirable? plans for the coming year. These schemes include: l Twenty-two new affordable homes in Tavistock when the new £2-million Godolphin House development at Abbey Bridge opens later this spring. l Taking the lead over investigations into old mine workings at Horrabridge to help release vacant former MOD homes and help secure the economic viability of the village. l The Council?s new licensing role under the Licensing Act 2003. Cllr Eberlie said the council also aimed to expand on the success of the recently-opened Parklands Leisure Centre in Okehampton, help small businesses in the area develop through the securing of an £8-million rural renaissance programme and continue to be at the forefront of recycling initiatives. Cllr Jane Waterhouse, responding for the Liberal Democrat group, said: ?I regret this budget process was started too late, with insufficient idea of what we hoped to achieve.? She said more time should have been devoted to looking at possibilities for further income generation rather than on press releases and visits to London to plead the council?s case. Cllr Mandy Govier, member for Tavistock South, said she was disappointed at the decision of the Liberal Democrats to abstain without offering any alternative budget, describing their action as the ?weak man?s way out?. The council also reaffirmed its policy to cut the discount on second homeowners? council tax for the next financial year. This means that second homeowners will continue to pay 90 percent council tax instead of 50 percent. The extra money will be used towards providing affordable housing for single people. Devon County Council, parish councils, the police authority and the fire service all levy precepts as well as the borough council to formulate the final council tax demand on West Devon residents.