COUNCIL tax-payers in Basingstoke face an increase of at least £60 on next year's bill.

The hike is all down to Hampshire County Council, as the borough council will impose a nil rise in council tax for the third year running.

Borough council leader Rob Donnelly said: "We managed to make fairly significant savings over the last year and we are planning to make further savings in the coming year - while at the same time improving services.

"Next year will see the opening of the new Lido sports and leisure complex and the Festival Place shopping centre. We will also have a significant number of housing projects.

"So from financial savings and very efficient management costs we are able to maintain the council tax rate for another year."

The county council announced probable rises - of eight to nine per cent - after learning that its Government grant to support local services next year would be £863 million compared with £829 for the current year. This is an increase of just over four per cent in the face of massive increases in social services and education costs.

The average increase in grants for local authorities throughout Britain was 7.4 per cent.

County council leader Ken Thornber said: "Despite authorities up and down the country lobbying for extra money to meet the needs of the frail and vulnerable in our society, yet again there is no recognition of increased demands and continued underfunding.

"Government only funds two thirds of the costs of local services, the rest falls on the council taxpayer. The people of Hampshire have made clear that their priorities are our core services such as schools, social services and roads.

"I am determined, therefore, to do everything I can to ensure that these key services continue to be properly funded. It means that the average band D council tax for the county may increase from £680.58 to at least £741.74.

Basingstoke residents with a D band house will now pay at least £885 next year, compared with £825.13 this year, and possibly more should the police authority increase its precept again.

In rural areas and towns outside Basingstoke, residents will also have to pay a precept for the town or parish councils, which varied from £5 to £73 this year.

While district and borough councils throughout the rest of Hampshire were deciding what increase they would impose on residents when council tax bills go out next April, people in Basingstoke were first to learn of their local tax - which will be the same as this year.