COUNCIL tax in Royston is going up 22 pence per week next year. Hertfordshire Police Authority revealed that their share of council tax is going up 3.5 per cent - just under 10 pence per week - to �147.82 for an average Band D property. Combined with the

COUNCIL tax in Royston is going up 22 pence per week next year.

Hertfordshire Police Authority revealed that their share of council tax is going up 3.5 per cent - just under 10 pence per week - to �147.82 for an average Band D property.

Combined with the increases already announced by Royston Town Council and North Herts District Council, it means an average Band D property owner will be paying �1,499.99 a year for public services, a weekly increase of 22 pence

Hertfordshire County Council this week confirmed it will freeze its council tax in 2010/11.

The county council's tax freeze was revealed last month, and confirmed at a full council meeting held on Tuesday.

Cllr David Lloyd, executive member for resources and economic wellbeing, said: "Despite Hertfordshire receiving the lowest rise in central government grant of any county council in the country - while having to absorb the extra costs of an ageing population, more people with learning disabilities and rising school pupil numbers - we have not passed the burden on to the hard-pressed council taxpayer."

Police authority chairman Stuart Naggler said of his organisations increase: "We weighed up the need to maintain the high standards of policing, which the public tell us they expect, with the need to limit the financial burden we place on our residents.

"The result will mean that, for the next year at least, our Neighbourhood Policing Teams can be maintained. This includes continued match funding for the PCSOs funded by our partners. The Authority believes that these Teams play a key role in providing public reassurance and building confidence - something we are all striving to achieve," he said.