EASTLEIGH councillors have voted to freeze council tax as part of an annual budget.

Keith House, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council, hailed the move as “refreshing” during a lengthy speech backing budget proposals.

Members of the borough council voted in favour of the recommendations, which will see an average band D council tax charge of £130.07 which includes a £26 special costs amount – the county council figure is £1,037, police is £157 and fire is £61. Added to that is the various parish precepts.

Cllr House contrasted Eastleigh’s fortunes with those of other councils forced to increase tax.

He said: “It’s refreshing that everywhere doesn’t have to be the same and once more this council protects residents.

“Our budgets are well managed and thought through and carefully worked through as part of a long-term strategy.

“It’s the best record of council tax in the country and I would like to thank our staff who have worked fantastically hard.”

Godfrey Olson, leader of the Conservative opposition, criticised the budget as being “fragile” and argued that increasing costs of services would affect residents.

He said: “It’s time that we had a proper review of the services and functions that we provide and the administration that we have in place at the moment.

“We need to see if there’s a way of working smarter.”

Council tax bills in the New Forest however are set to rise by more than £4 from April.

The district council is freezing its share of council tax for the sixth year running and two other charging authorities, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, have also decided against any increase.

But Hampshire’s police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes is raising his precept by more than £3 per household to just over £157 for a band D property.

Residents in the Forest are also facing a rise of £1.46 in the cost of services provided by individual town and parish councils.

It means the average band D council taxpayer will be charged £1,482 compared with the current £1,477.

The figure was approved unanimously at last night’s meeting of the district council.