BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council is proposing a budget which is set to protect frontline services.

Members of the cabinet approved the £121.42 per year proposal as the average borough council part of the council tax for 2019/20 which is likely to make it the lowest of the districts in Hampshire, and most of the rest of the country.

However, the proposal would see a £5 increase to the average council tax bill.

As part of the proposal, additional support will be made available for vulnerable people, including £850,000 more for disabled facilities grants to help people stay in their own homes and a new scheme to give council tax reductions for 18 to 25-year-old care leavers.

There is going to be a £6.5 million boost for local facilities, with plans to invest in improvements and maintenance, including community buildings, play areas and the skate park in War Memorial Park.

Cabinet member for finance, service delivery and improvement at the borough council, Councillor Robert Tate, said: “We are investing in our community at a time when many councils are having to go the other way. We are protecting - and often improving – our frontline services, as well as supporting vulnerable people, yet we are adding only £5 per year to the average council tax bill.

“Our focus is on providing value for money for our residents, including by making services more efficient through new technology so that we can continue to protect them and keep council tax low in the future.

“We are using our own resources to support the digital future of the borough and to deliver projects like Manydown and Basing View to provide a great homes and jobs, but also bring in extra funds, in years to come.”

Services that residents value – like weekly bin collections – have been kept as part of plans for a balanced budget over the next four years.

The proposals are currently out for consultation with residents being able to give feedback until Wednesday, 2 January 2019 by visiting basingstoke.gov.uk/budget2019.

The final decision will be made at a full council meeting in February 2019.