CHRISTCHURCH council have increased their share of the council tax by 1.95 per cent for the next year.

It will mean an increase of just under £4 per year for residents living in a band D property.

In his speech to the council, Cllr Mike Duckworth portfolio holder for performance, said: “We believe that it is right to apply small but affordable increases of below £4 per annum to council tax to significantly protect the income needed to continue the services we intend to deliver in the future.

“It will also protect our tax payers from the probability of a large increase in the near future when we could be approaching what our auditors Grant Thornton call the ‘tipping point’.”

He added: “I believe that we have a better degree of control over the future because of the difficult yet necessary decisions we have made.”

The increase of 1.95 per cent will see Christchurch council’s element of the Council Tax for a Band D property set at £181.45, increased from £177.98 in 2013/14.

The total council tax payable for a Band D property, including contributions to Dorset County Council, Dorset Police and Dorset Fire Authority, will be £1,626.67.

For residents in the parish of Hurn it will be £1,653.54 and residents of the parish of Burton £1,638.45.