a Tory bid to reduce the council tax rise in Braintree has failed.

Last night, Braintree Council leader John Gyford recommended a proposed increase of 6.93 per cent to the district's part of the tax bill. It would mean an extra £6.75 a year for the average Band D property.

Mr Gyford said this was in line with other districts and had been slightly adjusted in the light of the county council's proposal to impose a rise of only 8.3 per cent .

But David Finch (Con, Stour Valley Central) urged members to reject the proposal, saying it represented an 8.7 per cent rise in the overall tax bill, which ordinary people could not afford. The Tories wanted a rise of just 3.3 per cent.

"It is no comfort to know that people in adjoining districts will be paying the same," he said. "People's wages are not going up by 8.7 per cent. Wages go up in line with inflation at 2.3 per cent. We have got to get reality back into our budget."

But the move failed after it did not win cross party support and a 6.93 per cent increase was approved.

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