West Norfolk councillors last night approved a 0.8pc increase in council tax as it looks make a further £3.9m in savings over the next three years.

Services also highlighted for rises in the council's budget for the next five years include car parking charges, brown bin garden waste service and cremation fees.

Nick Daubney, leader of West Norfolk Council, said: 'The reality we are talking about here is huge reductions ahead of us.

'What we are trying to project in the council's financial plan [the budget] is a plan that takes into account of reductions and some levels of phasing out.

'By 2021/2022 we will be at a point that will leave us to stand on our own two feet from council tax and business rates.'

He added: 'Our election promise was that council tax projection would not go over and above inflation which was predicted as 0.9pc; and we will abide by that promise to the electorate.'

Since 2009, West Norfolk Council says it has identified a potential £7.9m in savings and has to make another £3.9m over the next three years to maintain services at their current level.

Car parking charges and council tax have been frozen for the last five years.

Now the proposed budget has been approved by councillors at the last cabinet meeting, it will next be presented at Full Council.

The 0.8pc council tax increase translates to a 90p rise per year for Band D households to £112.87.

The budget proposes that the £2.10 charge to stay for three hours in council-run car parks will become £2.50; and brown bin composting is set to increase by £10 from April 2017.

Parish and town councils may also be required to take on more responsibility for services such as grounds work that has previously been carried out by West Norfolk Council workers.

Some of the key investments also identified for the borough include the Nar Ouse Regeneration Area scheme, major housing developments around Lynnsport and continued lobbying for 'much needed improvements' to the rail service and A47.

- What do you think about the savings being proposed? Email louise.hepburn@archant.co.uk