SEDGEMOOR residents will see a 3.4 per cent increase in their council tax next year after budget plans were announced. 

Members of Sedgemoor District Council voted to approve the council tax and housing rents for 2017/18 at a full council meeting today (February 22) and insisted there will be no cuts to services.

The council tax increase will see Sedgemoor residents paying an extra £5 per year on their council tax if they have a Band D property which is just 9p per week.

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said:"Sedgemoor District Council has set a balanced budget, focussing on the positives and plans for the future despite reductions in grants from central government.

"This has meant that there are no cuts to services for residents.

"Over the past year, members have taken prudent, forward-thinking decisions that maintain and improve services and save money."

At the meeting, the council also agreed to a 1.25 per cent charge for the Somerset Rivers Authority which equates to £1.80 per year for a Band D property.

Cllr Duncan McGinty from Sedgemoor District Council delivered the Conservative budget and said there will be no cuts to services across Sedgemoor.

He added the council made savings of £340,000 last year and said a further £230,000 worth of savings will be made in the next financial year.

Here is a round-up of all that was announced at this year's budget and council tax and housing meeting:  

According to a study by the Local Enterprise Partnership, Sedgemoor is the fastest growing council in Devon and Somerset with its economy growing at 17%. 

The council says they have invested £750,000 in an apprenticeship scheme and are key partners in a new employment hub due to open in April, 2017.

SDC said they are working on the Huntspill Low Carbon Energy Park, which will create 4,000 new jobs.

Four new hotels have planning permission and one is due to open at Eastover in Bridgwater this Autumn after investment of between £50 and £60 milion. 

SDC said there has been significant activity at Isleport Business Park in Highbridge with 12 – 15 acres of additional space being added to meet demand.

Highbridge Enterprise Centre is full and its expansion is mostly pre-let.

£400,000 has been put into the Celebration Mile regeneration project as part of the £1.2 million Bridgwater Railway station revamp.

There have been 10 expressions of interest in the Northgate site.

SDC says there have been improvements in Bridgwater Town Centre, with business support packages for training, physical improvements to the streets and a summer event, a £310,000 joint project, funded by CIM, with Bridgwater Town Council.

In principle, a £44 million starter home funding, with our neighbours from the government.

The council has put in an additional £320,000 into homelessness prevention  and said Sedgemoor prevented 730 households from becoming homeless.

The first house building by Sedgemoor for over 30 years – 18 new homes built on redundant garage sites.

£950,000 has been committed towards the construction of 60 new affordable homes in Bridgwater and Highbridge.

£322,000 has been invested into Sedgemoor’s parks with outdoor gyms and new play equipment.