Dacorum councillors agreed a 1.8 per cent increase in council tax at a meeting last week in order to achieve a balanced budget.

The Dacorum Borough Council meeting was held on Wednesday, February 25 and the increase will amount to £3.18 each year for the average Band D household - less than 1p more per day.

This means residents will pay around 49p a day for all council services - including refuse collection and recycling, street cleaning, environmental health, planning, licensing, housing advice and benefits.

Councillor Andrew Williams, leader of the council, said: "Our budget plans not just to protect and maintain services today, but to invest in the borough’s future while keeping costs low for our residents.

"It is always a tough decision to increase Council Tax, but as local government funding continues to decrease it is clear that if we need money for our local area we need to raise it locally. This modest increase will allow us to maintain important services, invest in our services and assets, boost the economy of the borough and support the aspirations of our communities."