A REDUCTION in the proposed Council Tax increase for Cambridgeshire has been announced by the county council. The council says that new financial information means the proposed increase of 4.7 per cent has been dropped to 3.9 per cent. This is because

A REDUCTION in the proposed Council Tax increase for Cambridgeshire has been announced by the county council.

The council says that "new financial information" means the proposed increase of 4.7 per cent has been dropped to 3.9 per cent.

"This is because of higher than expected council tax collection figures received from district councils," said a council spokesman.

Reduced levels of inflation have also meant the council can revise down its estimates of pay inflation over the coming years "and the exemplary management of investments has brought a further benefit".

However Lib Dems on the council believe they may have influenced the budget process with their own amendments published last week.

"Our amendment called for an increase of just 2.9 per cent," said their leader Councillor David Jenkins.

"We proposed a raft of savings including inflations assumptions which recognised the realities of today's recession. In its recent announcement the county council acknowledged this," he said.

Cllr Jenkins added: "This really makes a mockery of the process. The Tories have had several months to get this right and we highlighted to them in recent budget seminars that their inflation assumptions were wrong. Finally they take our advice but only after a very public change of mind."

Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Jill Tuck said: "We gave a commitment to review, review, and review again our budget proposals in the light of better and later information and the result is good news for council taxpayers.

"Now we are in the fortunate position of not only being able to maintain our overall approach to funding and delivering the services which matter most to residents, but also asking people to pay a little less than previously proposed."

The 3.9% increase means that the council tax on an average band D property will increase by 73 pence per week, or �38 a year.