A COUNCIL Tax rise of 5.6 per cent was rubber stamped by Richmond upon Thames Council on Tuesday.

Bills will start landing on doormats next week, after the lowest rise for five years was passed by the Conservative majority at a meeting of the borough's full council.

An alternative proposal from the Lib Dems to freeze the tax at its current level for one year, to give taxpayers a break, was rejected.

Presenting the budget at York House the cabinet member for finance, Cllr Nicholas True, said that they had inherited a poor legacy from the Liberal Democrats and had only just started to put things right. He also emphasised the poor settlement Richmond had received from the government, saying it received £450 less per head than the average borough.

He responded to criticism that the reserves were too high by saying that they allow the council to plan on a four to five year basis and said their increased investment would provide a visible improvement in services.

Presenting the opposition's alternative budget, Lib Dem Cllr Stephen Knight said: "Our amendment freezes tax for a year to give the poorest and elderly in the borough a brief respite. It is a prudent and easily affordable amendment."