COUNCILLORS have reluctantly agreed to increase Spennymoor’s council tax by 2.5 per cent for 2014-15 after voting not to have a rise for the last three years.

Members of the council agreed to the proposal on Tuesday (February 11) because of a cut in the central Government funding given via Durham County Council.

The move means that a band A property will pay £136.18 in 2014-15 compared with £132.86 in 2013-14 and a band D resident will pay £204.27 in 2014-15 compared to £199.29 the previous year.

Councillor Jeff Daley, mayor of Spennymoor, said: “We agreed to the rise with our hands tied due to losing funding from central Government.

“Spennymoor has held its precept at zero for the last three years. It’s with great reluctance that we’ve agreed to the rise, but it’s to ensure we can provide the same services.”