BASILDON Council's portion of council tax will be frozen for 2022/23 local councillors have agreed.

Basildon's share of council tax paid by householders makes up 14 per cent of their bill; 71 per cent goes to Essex County Council which has increased its tax by 4.49 per cent. This is made up of a 2.99 per cent council tax increase (including 1% specifically for adult social care), plus a further 1.5 per cent for Adult Social Care that was deferred from last year during the pandemic.

This would mean that for an average Band D property household, the Essex element of council tax will increase by £60.21 next year, or £1.16 per week.

The remaining 15 per cent of a Basildon bill is given to police and fire services and has also gone up.

At the budget meeting in Basildon on Thursday, 24 February, the ruling Conservative group pledged millions of pounds will be invested in ambitious programmes to modernise services for residents.

Spending and investment plans detailed by the ruling group include:

£7million over the next three years to support the regeneration of Basildon Town Centre, delivering a bustling new day and night-time economy to the borough's largest town centre.

£6million in the council's new build programme, with a further £10million every year for the next five years, to build high quality new homes for residents of the borough.

A further £1.2million to complete the redevelopment of the Laindon Community Centre, with another £360,000 to deliver improvements across other community centres in the borough.

£40million to build safer, thriving communities through the Safe and Sound Estates programme.

£340,000 investment in LED street lights around the borough, replacing outdated technology and bringing light to dimly lit areas.

£30,000 investment to improve access to cycling in the borough.

Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott said: "It has been another tough year as we look to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic but I am pleased to say that we are freezing council tax. At a time when the cost of heating our homes is going up we believe residents deserve a break.

"Despite the freeze we are continuing with and adding to an ambitious programme of investment and projects to improve the lives and environment of the people of the borough.

"As we agree a budget for the year ahead we are committing to investing in what residents value the most – building new homes, regenerating our town centres, tackling anti-social behaviour and implementing our safe and sounds estates programme."