HARROGATE'S borough council will increase its council tax by 1.99 per cent in the next year.

The increase, the first increase in seven years, was confirmed this week in a budget meeting and will see average band D band homes with bills increasing by £4.37 a year.

The new budget includes more than £2.6 million in savings and new income - more than twice the equivalent figure last year.

However the council is to press ahead with plans for a chargeable garden waste service - which will be available to all homes in the district not just the 60 per cent current reached.