A SERIES of meetings to help to determine the level of council tax set by Sedgefield Borough Council are to be held next week.

A report to the council's cabinet last week said the borough's residents had been facing the prospect of a double figure percentage rise as a result of a relatively poor Government grant settlement.

But the report adds: "Following a careful examination of the budget and the reallocation of resources to priority areas, it will be possible to restrict the increase in council tax to 5.6 per cent."

This figure should be met, providing a spending figure for the year of £12m is accepted.

The council's scrutiny committees for each of the portfolios - resource management, culture and recreation, environment, housing, regeneration, community safety and supporting people - will meet next week to approve their budgets.

If the 5.6 per cent increase is set, it will add an extra £9 a year to the Band D tax and £6 for Band A.

The report to cabinet says: "The council faces a difficult financial position with limited resources being available for service growth in key priority areas.

"It will therefore be necessary to continue with the strategy adopted in recent years of switching resources from some areas, particularly discretionary services like culture and recreation."

The council's budget, and the level of council tax, will be set at a full meeting next month.