Broadland District Council will consider a 4.3pc rise in council tax when they meet this week.

Last year the authority voted to increase council tax for the first time in six years, with the maximum £5 rise for a Band D property. Any higher rise would have required a referendum.

It came as Broadland was required to draw on its reserved to the tune of £681,000 to cope with future growth.

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

On Thursday the council again be asked to approve a £4.99 rise in council tax for a Band D property.

The decision would allow for an additional £5 rise in the special expense charge for certain parishes the following year. It would cover the cost of footway lighting after Norfolk County Council refused to continue to pay for them.

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

In January Norfolk County Council agreed to hike up its share of council tax by 5.99pc.

And the police and crime commissioner will see a 5.5pc rise for the cost of policing.

Taken together for Broadland residents, the rises would mean a rise of almost £100. Those living in Band D properties would pay £94.51 more a year.

The report to council states a public consultation into a possible rise in council tax had shown overwhelming support for an increase.

'The public consultation on the budget had received 31 responses,' it said. 'Of these, 27 were in favour of a rise in council tax in order to protect the key services provided by the council, two neither agreed nor disagreed and two strongly disagreed.

'Members were asked to note the pressure on services throughout the council and in particular those relating to Universal Credit and housing benefit changes.'

The recommendation before council on Thursday will be to increase council tax by £4.99 for a Band D property, and allow for a hike in the special expense charge to parishes such as Hellesdon and Drayton, to meet the cost of footway lights in their areas.

The total estimate of special expenses amounts to £110,500 in 2018/19.