COUNCIL taxpayers in Chipping Norton and the surrounding area of West Oxfordshire will pay the second lowest district council tax in England from April.

West Oxfordshire District Council last week set its share of the council tax for a Band D property at £74.88, a 4.9 per cent rise on the current figure.

Council leader Barry Norton said: "I am confident this will leave the council levying the second lowest charge again out of 238 shire districts in England and the lowest in Oxfordshire by some margin. By comparison, the highest charge in Oxfordshire is Oxford City at a level of £237, more than three times our charge."

WODC cabinet member for resources Simon Hoare said: "The budget savings we are making coincide with the worst financial settlement from the government in living memory. And yet we are expected to do more with new responsibilities and no additional government support."