COUNCIL taxpayers in Shipston and the surrounding area of south Warwickshire face a 4.65 per cent increase in their overall council tax bill from April.

Excluding the amount for town and parish councils, the bill for an average band D council taxpayer will rise from £1,310 to £1,373.

The overall figure includes the amount for Warwickshire County Council of £1,086 and Warwickshire police of £164.

It also includes the amount agreed by Stratford District Council last week (feb 25), when councillors set a council tax requirement of £123 for a band D taxpayer, an increase of £4.15 or 3.5 per cent.

The district council says its council tax element is the lowest in Warwickshire. and works out at an 8p a week increase for band D council taxpayers.

It points out that it means all the services provided by the district council are costing £2.37 per week for a Band D household, although actual bills received will be higher because the district council also collects the county council, police and parish taxes.

Shipston district councillor and cabinet member Trevor Russel said: "Our council tax rise of 3.5 per cent is below the national average. We've avoided any cuts in services. And by continuing to cut waste and improve efficiencies, we've found money to invest in major new priorities like £100,000 to deliver the Stour Vision.

"It's a good budget for the whole district - and an especially good one for Shipston and the neighbouring villages."

The parish element of the council tax bill for band D will be: Admington £16.43; Barton-on-the-Heath £12.59; Brailes £27.63; Burmington £3.94; Cherington & Stourton £18.28; Great Wolford £7.80; Ilmington £31.92; Little Compton £33.35; Long Compton £19.15; Oxhill £16.87; Shipston £108.32; Stretton-on-Fosse £19.93; Sutton-under-Brailes £24.65; Tredington £23.87; Tysoe £20.07 and Whichford £27.91.