TENS of thousands of New Forest residents are facing an increase in their council tax bills from April.
People living in an average Band D property in the district will have to find a total of £1,471 in the coming financial year – a rise of £5.31.
Council tenants in the Forest are also facing a 4.1 per cent increase in their rents.
But district councillors also voted to explore the possibility of cutting costs in the future by reducing the number of members from 60 to 35.
The decisions were taken at last night’s budget-setting meeting of the Tory-run authority.
The district council, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are freezing their share of the council tax.
But residents will have to pay more for the services provided by some of the 37 town and parish councils in the Forest.
It means that the council tax paid by each of the 80,000 households will vary from parish to parish.
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