WEST Devon councillors have shelved a decision on setting the level of council tax for the coming year, while the government makes a decision on the threshold level for local authorities.

West Devon Borough Council's resources committee decided on Tuesday to put two recommendations before a full meeting of the council next month.

One option would see a small increase in council tax of just seven pence per week for the average home to help protect frontline services.

The other would see the council accept the government's Council Tax Freeze Grant of one percent and keep its share of council tax for 2014/15 at the current level. 

The decision is subject to the government's decision on the maximum amount local authorities can increase their council tax by.

Leader of the council, Cllr Philip Sanders, said: 'It is difficult to make a decision while we wait for final details of our government settlement and the decision on the council tax threshold which we expect to receive in the next two weeks.

'At that point we will produce a final budget proposal to place before full council, on Tuesday, February 18.

'Our aim is always to continue to provide high quality services at the level the public has been used to while minimising the financial effect on council tax payers.'  

Savings of more than £381,000 are also proposed for 2014/15. 

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

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

Ground-breaking plans are already underway to save £1.3 million a year by working with partner authority South Hams District Council to adopt the latest technology and developing a new way of delivering services with a smaller workforce.