THE cost of services provided by New Forest District Council is being frozen for the sixth year running.

It means the average Band D council taxpayer will pay the authority £155 in the 2015-16 financial year.

It is the same amount they have been charged since 2010-11.

The total amount of council tax paid by residents will depend on the amounts levied by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Police and individual parish councils, and currently stands at £1,477.

The decision to freeze the district’s share of the council tax for another 12 months was taken at a meeting of the ruling cabinet.

Councillor Colin Wise, cabinet member for finance and efficiency, said: “Whatever party takes over after the General Election in May, the country’s massive debt means that councils will be in the firing line.

“We cannot and must not relax. We will continue to keep a very tight control on expenditure.”

The cabinet also agreed that council house rents in the Forest should rise by an average of 2.2 per cent.