A TOWN council has frozen its share of the council tax for a third year in a row.

Spennymoor Town Council has approved a precept of £1,000,140 for 2013-14 which is £234,580 less than last year- largely due to changes by the Government in how council funding is calculated.

To avoid increasing the council tax the council has drawn up a list of savings.

The parish allowance available to members has been cut by £500, overnight stays to attend conferences and courses suspended and the council will try to lease equipment rather than buy it when required.

Plans to regenerate the John Kitson Arch in the town centre have been shelved but the council will still put £50,000 towards a new skate park in its Jubilee Park.