HOUSEHOLDERS in the Forest are bracing themselves for a 3.99 per cent rise in Council Tax as Gloucestershire County Council delivered its budget for 2016/17.

The good news is the £420 million budget will focus more on roads, extra support for vulnerable children and investment into cycling schemes.

The bad news is it comes as the Forest council also plans to increase the Council Tax by two per cent.

It could mean the average Band D household will pay between £55 and £70 extra a year depending on location.

County councillor Richard Leppington said his group ’opposed’ the rise and deemed it ’unfair’.

He said: "My party and I opposed the increase in Council Tax as we don’t think it is fair to ask poor people to pay until we are sure that all possible savings have been made.

"This rise comes as the Forest of Dean District Council also plans to increase the Council Tax by 1.99 per cent. This will be discussed further (tomorrow) during a full council meeting at 7pm. If full council vote in favour it could mean the average Band D household will pay between £55 and £70 extra a year depending on where they live. "

The rise by Gloucestershire County Council includes a two per cent National Adult Social Levy and 1.99 per cent for other services.

Gloucestershire County Council agreed that:

• £2.075million extra would be spent on roads, including increasing Highways Local to £30,000 per member and £7,500 per member for additional road maintenance in their area

• £150,000 to invest in new cycling schemes from the Barriers to Cycling report

• £100,000 investment to pay for a designated traffic regulation order officer to speed up the processes

• £25,000 investment into mental health support for children and young people

• £20,000 into support to tackle child sexual exploitation

The council also agreed the previous proposals, which include £2million to recruit new social workers, investments into better broadband and continued focus on healthy and active communities.

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Leader of the Council, said: "We’ve worked very hard for the past few years making more than £140million of savings and protecting crucial services and I believe that what we’ve set out this year continues to do that.

"It provides £4.7m extra for vulnerable older people, over £150,000 extra for children and families and protects our road repair budget."