NO council tax increase is being recommended this year by Poole’s cabinet.

The recommendation, which will go to full council on February 25, is to not raise council tax for 2014/15.

If the full meeting of Borough of Poole accepts the proposal it will mean that council tax has not gone up since 2010.

The annual charge for council services on a Band D property in the town would remain at £1,209.60.

“Over the past four years the council has worked hard to absorb £43.5mi-llion of budget pressures and cuts in government funding while minimising the impact on frontline services,” said council leader, Cllr Elaine Atkinson.

“Despite this challenge, I am pleased to say that we are again in a position to deliver a balanced budget and to recommend no increase in council tax for a fourth successive year.

“This has been achieved through careful financial planning, effective management of our resources and use of our limited reserves,” she said.

However the medium term financial plan estimates the council must save a further £34.5m by 2018, the equivalent of 23 per cent of its budget for 2013/14. A cross-party budget steering group, including councillors from the borough’s three political groups has been established to consider options for further savings and efficiencies.

Cllr Atkinson said: “There is no doubt that the council faces an enormous financial challenge in the future and difficult decisions will need to be made over the next few years.

“While good progress has been made to identify areas where we can make further savings, there is still a lot of work to be done.”

While the council’s element of council tax will not change, residents will face a 1.96 per cent increase in the Dorset Police precept and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service was due to meet yesterday.