AVERAGE householders in south Wiltshire are facing a total Council Tax bill this year of at least £1,351.99.

Salisbury District Council this week formally set its share of the bill at £128.32 a year for the average Band D taxpayer, which is an increase of 4.3 per cent.

But to that figure has to be added the new £1,020.59 Band D charge of Wiltshire County Council (up 4.8 per cent), the Wiltshire Police Authority charge of £145.34 (up 4.3 per cent) and the Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority charge of £57.74 (up 4.25 per cent).

On top of that, householders face additional charges for the running of their parish or town councils, or a city charge if they live in Salisbury.

Presenting the Salisbury District Council budget at a full meeting of the council on Monday night, portfolio holder for finance, Andrew Roberts, said the 4.5 per cent rise amounted to an extra 11p a week extra and was the lowest percentage increase in seven years.

He added it would support a budget which would see an additional £714,000 invested in district council services.

But Tory member Mike Hewitt challenged the claim it was the lowest district tax increase in seven years, claiming, in currency terms, it was more likely the lowest for three, or even two years.

  • Monday night's meeting also ratified increased rents for council homes and garages, along with a rise in tenant service charges.

The average rent for the area's 7,000-plus council homes is to go up by £3.07 a week and service charges by £1 a week. The cost of renting a council garage is to increase by £2 a week this year - followed by another £2 rise next year.