Waveney District Council has voted to increase its share of the council tax bill by just over three per cent.

The increase equates to an extra £4.95 for a band D property and was agreed by councillors last night (February 22), with 42 voting in favour, none against and one abstention.

It comes on top of the 2017/18 rises already agreed by Suffolk County Council and the county's police and crime panel.

Waveney leader Colin Law said the authority would deliver a balanced budget for the forthcoming financial year despite ongoing reductions in central government funding, meaning that, by 2019/20, the council will receive about £2.6 million less than it did in 2015/16.

Presenting the council's 2017/18 budget, Mr Law confirmed that Waveney will create more than £3 million in efficiency savings and generate more than £1 million in additional income.

He said: 'As in previous years, this budget has been set in very challenging circumstances, and once again, a huge amount of hard work has gone in to balancing the books for the next 12 months. We have taken some major decisions that both influence next year's budget and the financial position in years to come, and we are making significant progress towards a more sustainable financial position.

'This budget includes significant savings and increases in income, by securing efficiencies, reviewing partnerships, considering asset management opportunities and delivering major projects. Additionally, we will continue to invest in the district - pumping just under £49 million of capital investment in to Waveney in the next four years.'

He said this year's increase worked out at less than 10p per week for a band D household and stressed that the district council received only about 11p in every pound of council tax paid, with the vast majority going to the county council and police. He added that the council's decision to merge with Suffolk Coastal would reduce costs and help to protect vital services.

The county council will increase its share of the council tax by three per cent and the portion paid to Suffolk Constabulary is to go up by two per cent.