Council tax rise approved

Councillors have approved plans to raise council tax by £4.45 a year for an average Band D property in the next year’s budget.

Ashford Borough Council was given special permission by the government to claw back more cash from householders without the need to call a local referendum.

The rise will result in Band D property owners paying £150 a year in total to Ashford Borough Council in the next financial year, which keeps Ashford’s tax rate as the lowest in Kent and one of the lowest in the country.

The plans were unanimously approved by the full council meeting on Thursday night last week.