BUCKINGHAMSHIRE County Council has approved a five per cent hike in council tax.

The county council's cabinet backed the budget for the next financial year on Monday, February 6, and this morning the council voted 38 to 2 to approve it.

Council tax will rise by 4.99 per cent for Band D taxpayers as part of BCC's £1,208.08 precept for the 2017/18 financial year - with a council tax rise of 1.99 per cent added to the government's new three per cent social care precept aimed at cutting the costs of adult social care.

The rise amounts to an £1.11 increase per week for Band D rate payers.

This will be the county council's final budget to include the government's Revenue Support Grant - which amounted to 18.6 per cent of the budget just four years ago.

Leader Martin Tett said the budget was the "result of the prudent decisions taken during a real period of uncertainty".

He told councillors at full council this morning: “We have not only reshaped the council and its services, which has saved us over £100million over the past five years, but we have also been more commercial, with income now over £70 million per annum and targeted to increase by another £7 million next year.

“This budget offers Buckinghamshire the stability which is so vital when planning services and puts us on a sure footing for the future - whatever that may hold.”