COUNCIL tax changes across the county were approved last night, with Christchurch opting to increase the amount residents pay for services.

Councillors voted to increase Christchurch council's share of the council tax by 1.95%.

It comes after the council's funding from government was cut by £304,000 for the coming year.

Cllr Mike Duckworth, portfolio holder for performance, said the council believes it is “right to apply a small but affordable increase”.

The increase would protect the income needed to continue the council’s services, he added.

“The increase will also protect our council taxpayers 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.’”

The vote was unanimous.

In Bournemouth, full council agreed to reduce its share of council tax slightly to absorb the Dorset Fire Authority’s increase of 1.89 per cent.

In Bournemouth’s case, this was the fifth year in a row the council had decided to freeze its share of the council tax bill.

The motion was well supported in Bournemouth, where the ruling Conservatives have a large majority.

Cllr John Beesley, leader of Bournemouth council, said: “We will continue to be ambitious for all parts of the town and are determined to improve the quality of life for all Bournemouth residents.

“The seafront strategy and town centre vision will see more improvements in Bournemouth during 2015/16 and our accelerated housing strategy will continue to deliver across the board – homes for council tenants, property that is affordable for local people to buy and property inspections that see improved standards in the private rented sector.”

Dorset County Council has already agreed a 1.99 per cent increase, while the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner opted to freeze the police precept.

In Poole, councillors agree no increase in council tax for the fifth year.

The decision made at a meeting of Full Council last night means that the council's element of the Council Tax bill will remain frozen at £1209.60 for a typical Band D property.

Cllr Elaine Atkinson, leader of the council, said: "The financial challenge for the council remains considerable. However, by continuing to take the difficult decisions, the council has managed to protect the majority of frontline services and deliver no increase in Council Tax bills for the fifth year running."