COUNCIL tax for Hampshire County Council’s services, which is among the lowest of all county councils in England, is likely to be frozen at the same level for the fourth year running.

This is despite Hampshire receiving one of the lowest grants per head of population from government and a 43 per cent cut in the grant over four years – the biggest reduction in comparison with other counties.

The county council has saved £100million over the last two years and says it will now use the next two years to make further savings.

All council departmentss from social care to roads, transport to education and libraries to countryside, are having to find savings.

Proposals for achieving cuts without affecting services will be presented to executive members over the next week.

Budget recommendations for each Cabinet portfolio area will be presented to members and will be reviewed by select committees before submission to the Cabinet, which meets on February 8.

Final recommendations will be made to the full council on February 21.

If council tax is frozen, Band D tax would be £1,037.88.