Council tax payers will pay 8.5 per cent more for the services provided by the Vale of White Horse District Council over the coming year.

The increase is well above the rate of inflation and also exceeds the Government's recommended increase level of 4.5 per cent.

It will leave Band D householders in the district facing an average charge of £63.84 for the council's services in 1999/2000.

Last year, following an increase of nearly 20 per cent, taxpayers had to pay an average of £58.79.

The final bill householders will be faced with - taking into account county, police and parish precepts - is due to be confirmed next Wednesday.

At a full council meeting last night, amendments tabled by the district's minority Conservative and Labour groups were rejected.

The Tories had suggested Band D householders should pay an average of £61.44 - an increase of 4.5 per cent on last year - while the Labour group preferred a rise of 24 per cent to £75.93. The ruling Liberal Democrat group's proposed budget was passed instead, with leader Bob Johnston saying the increase amounted to a rise of about 10p a week.

All parties had proposed increases to pay for the services the council is currently providing.

Among the projects the Vale has in the pipeline are plans for a £7.8m leisure centre in Abingdon - with the council meeting nearly £5m of the cost.

The Liberal Democrats also announced they intend to expand the council's Green Box recycling scheme to all parts of the district.

Cllr Johnston said: "This is exactly what the public asked for in the consultation exercise on this topic."

Parish precepts in the district have also been set, with the average Band D householder in Abingdon facing a charge of £32.70.

Band D householders in Wantage are being charged £28.80 and householders in Grove facing a charge of £44.07.

Story date: Thursday 18 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.