LOCAL councils met across Hampshire last night to set the amount of tax they will charge residents next year.

Rises in the amount charged by district councils including Eastleigh, Fareham and Winchester were all agreed.

Across the county, record low rises in bills were approved as authorities tried to mix cuts in services with increases in fees and charges in a bid to keep bills down.

Among the casualties were children's playschemes in Eastleigh, axed by the ruling Liberal Democrats despite an eleventh hour bid by opposition parties, led by Tory leader Godfrey Olson, to keep the projects going.

Defending the move, Councillor Keith House said the playschemes were being subsidised by nearly £120 per family and that could not be justified.

A rise of just 1.5 per cent was eventually agreed, making it one of the lowest in the region.

Small increases were also seen in Fareham and Winchester, where councillors agreed rises of 2.41 per cent and 3.3 per cent respectively.

Fareham finance chiefs were criticised for ploughing too much into the reserves rather than into services, as increases in parking charges and using council facilities were agreed to offset the low rise.

Council leader Sean Woodward told members the budget increase represented a good deal for Fareham residents.

Winchester residents will also see increases in parking charges, including a 100 per cent rise in parking permits, as the ruling Liberal Democrat party tried to raise cash by raising fees rather than council tax.

Finance chief Councillor Kelsey Learney warned members that the low rise would mean efficiency savings across the board in the coming years.

The bills will come on top of the rise already agreed by Hampshire County Council for the services they provide.

On Wednesday, county bosses agreed to raise the amount paid by the average Band D property by 3.5 per cent, meaning bills will go up from £840.15 to £869.40. The increase will be added to a five per cent increase levied by police and a 1.6 per cent increase agreed by fire chiefs.

Parish councils across the county will also add on their share to the final bill.

New Forest District Council had already agreed its rise of 3.73 per cent and Southampton City Council, as a unitary authority, agreed a rise of 3.97 per cent last week.

Test Valley District Council is due to set its council tax levels today.

HOW MUCH YOU WILL PAY:

Residents in Fareham will pay on average about 5p a week more for borough services as council bosses agreed a 2.41 per cent rise, meaning average Band D householders' bills will rise to £126.27.

In Eastleigh the 1.5 per cent rise will see band D bills go up to £147.67.

Meanwhile, Winchester City Council residents will see the district part of their bill rise by 3.3 per cent to £107.82.