If the freeze is agreed the tax for a band D home will remain at £1246.21 a year.

For the last two years council tax has been increased by a little under two per cent.

The draft budget sets out how the council plans to cut £8.3m spending in the next financial year. This would be the largest year on year saving since 2011/12. In total the council has saved £31.3m in the last five years.

Keith Baker, leader of the council, said: "Our government grand has been decreasing year on year and this has a massive impact on the borough.

"Setting a robust budget gets harder and harder as we have to cover the funding gap whilst facing the ever-increasing demands on our services from a growing population.

"But even taking into account the savings required this year, we are set to invest around £3.2m in our services. Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults continues to be a top priority and our investments will help create sustainable communities."

The council tax is calculated by putting a house into one of eight bands based on a 1993 valuation.

In order to balance the books some adult social services will no longer be funded.

The council will decide on the budget at a meeting on Thursday February 19.

See next week's News for full details.