COUNCIL taxes in the Forest of Dean are likely to rise by 2.3 per cent if recommendations are agreed at full council in less than two weeks.

The district council's cabinet is recommending a 2.3 per cent council tax increase which will potentially put £2 a week on the average Band D council tax bill. On top of this will be the identical 2.3 per cent increase set by Gloucestershire County Council. And a just announced precept of 2.9 per cent set by Gloucestershire Police Authority amounting to an extra £5.70 a year for the Band D payer. Parish council precepts have yet to be agreed.

In setting its rate, the district council cabinet reversed its unpopular recommendation to end concessionary travel tokens for pensioners, which might have saved £30,000, and also stopped short of reducing grants to the community by £5,000, following consultations.

The biggest saving comes from postponing until September 2011 the appointment of a chief executive, which would have cost the district £130,000 to £150,000 a year or more. Instead it is recommended that Sue Pangbourne, currently strategic director, is appointed to the statutory post of head of paid services.

Peter Amos, leader of the council said: "We'll be recommending to full council a council tax rise, and a low one, of 2.3 per cent. Part of the reasoning for that is that the basic pension increase for pensioners nationally is 2.5 per cent and we were keen to keep it below that. Collection of council tax this year has also been better than anticipated."

Savings made by the council, in the face of cuts have already amounted to more than £1m, primarily in efficiencies.

It is recommended a further £125,000 could go by:

•Not appointing a chief executive (£100,000 +)

•Reducing 'day rate' work on street cleaning (£10,000)

•Reducing the market towns project budget (£10,000)

•Reducing the economic development project budget (£5,000)

"Thing is" said Mr Amos "With the best will in the world, we're trying to maintain the services the community wants with an ever decreasing budget. None of us should be under any illusion that there's not going to be a very difficult time ahead."