A COUNCIL Tax rise in South Cambridgeshire of 4.9 per cent is expected to be recommended today (Monday). Cabinet members on South Cambridgeshire District Council were due to recommend the increase which will see the cost of Band D property rising to £107

A COUNCIL Tax rise in South Cambridgeshire of 4.9 per cent is expected to be recommended today (Monday).

Cabinet members on South Cambridgeshire District Council were due to recommend the increase which will see the cost of Band D property rising to £107 a year as the local authority's share of Council Tax.

Council Tax decisions are still to be approved by both Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridgeshire Police Authority.

Cllr Vicky Ford, portfolio holder for resources, said: "We currently have the 10th lowest Council Tax of all 238 shire district councils in England and will remain at a similarly low level even with the proposed increase."

She said that despite south Cambridgeshire being one of the most rapidly growing areas in the country, cash from the Government was just 1 per cent higher than last year.

"This does not even keep pace with inflation and is one of the lowest increases in the east of England," she said.

The council's financial settlement from central Government in 2007-08 was £7.5 million and for 2008-09 it will increased by just £29,000.

Cllr Ford said the Cabinet had a "difficult balancing act" to perform in a bid to protect essential services and provide value for money.

"It is only through a combination of disciplined cost control and strong financial management that we have been able to achieve a balanced budget," said Cllr Ford.

The Cabinet decision will be referred to the council for its decision on Thursday, February 28.