Residents of Braintree face a steep council tax rise.

Essex County Council was yesterday poised to raise its share of the bill by nearly ten per cent - about four times the rate of inflation.

And the district council seems set to agree an increase of almost seven per cent in its share tonight.

The tax covers police and county, district and parish council spending.

The police authority on Monday set its share up 4.4 per cent on last year.

The county says it needs more for education to make up for a shortfall in Government funding.

Braintree Council leader John Gyford said its figure was in line with other district councils. Last year councillors held the increase to under four per cent by juggling left-over balances.

Mr Gyford said: "But you can only do that trick once. You cannot endlessly dip into the balances."

Other factors include a fall in interest rates, which hit investment returns, and a request by the district auditor for the council to tighten its belt.

Mr Gyford said: "He has advised us to have a balance which is ten per cent of our budget."

Maldon District Council is set to increase its council tax share by 6.5 per cent.

The average tax payer in Maldon can expect to pay a total of £134.92, which is £81 plus the town council's amount of £53.92. This will be added to the Essex County Council demand to set the final bill.

Braintree's budget in detail

Braintree Council's budget for the next financial year is £12.5 million and it aims to maintain a reserve of £1.4 million as a "useful comfort zone".

Councillors are looking to make savings but will also be funding the following new initiatives from the budget.

Extra money for recycling, particularly within the context of the county's waste plan, which shifts the emphasis from incineration to recycling

Rural and community transport - funding for an additional minibus and extending the scheme to the north of the district

The appointment of a youth officer to liaise with young people

The appointment of a part-time empty homes officer

Plans for the Tabor Triangle site also look likely to come to fruition this year.

That will mean an average increase of £6.75 for people living in a band D property.

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