Broadland District Council has agreed to increase its share of council tax for the first time in six years.

Members this evening voted in favour of the 2017/18 budget, which will see a £5 council tax increase for people living in a band D property.

The council was told that the increase was needed to help the local authority 'absorb costs' following a rise in inflation.

Over the coming financial year Broadland could also have to draw £681,000 from its reserves in order to cope with future growth.

But Trudy Mancini-Boyle, cabinet member for finance, told councillors that as of December 31, 96.9pc of the 2016/17 budget had been spent.

She added: 'It is therefore predicted it will not be necessary to make the draw on reserves we had anticipated at this time last year.'

Members were told that Broadland's revenue support grant will also reduce to nil by 2020, and that its primary source of funding will be from business rate retention.

As a result, £2.246m could be required from reserves between April 2017 and March 2020, to maintain the current level of services to residents.

The new council tax rates will see Broadland's share increase from £111.15 a year to £116.15 - a rise of 4.5pc.

Council tax bills are made up of portions paid to the county council, districts, parishes and the police authority.

Earlier in the week, Norfolk County Council agreed to hike up its share of council tax by 4.8pc.

And that was on top of an increase of just below 2pc for policing.

Mrs Mancini-Boyle said: 'Clearly Broadland still has healthy reserves and opportunities that arise for the appropriate use of these to encourage the right kind of development, for both new business and new homes, is the way that the council can best combat the challenges ahead.'

Members also voted in favour of Broadland not taking on responsibility for any new street lighting in the district from April 2018.

It would see responsibility for the cost of maintaining new street lights transferred to parish and town councils.

However, the council agreed that a consultation should be undertaken with all affected parishes before this goes ahead.