PROPOSED changes to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s budget has come under scrutiny with fees and charges expected to once again increase.

As part of the borough’s budget strategy for 2018/19, fees and charges, which includes the cost of parking and burials, will rise by at least 3.5 per cent.

It is not only the fees and charges which are set to increase, as council tax is proposed to go up by £5 per year for the average household with the borough currently having the lowest rate in Hampshire at £47 lower than the average district in the county, around 30 per cent lower than average.

The borough council believes making these increases it will help deliver high-quality services, but opposition councillors say the increase is would mean residents are expected to pay more with services are being cut.

Independent councillor Ian Tilbury said: “The council is obsessed with having a low council tax, but they are constantly putting up the fees and charges.

“In the long-term this is costing residents more as they are paying to park in town maybe once or twice a week, which all adds up.”

Leader of the Basingstoke Labour group, Cllr Paul Harvey, added: “To put these fees up is once again an example of the Conservatives making poor choices for the people of Basingstoke.”

A decision on the budget is due at a full council meeting tonight.

It is believed that if approved, the council will gain an estimated £231,000 in additional income, which it says will be reinvested into other areas across the borough.

Cabinet member for finance, service delivery and improvement Cllr Robert Tate argued the council is still providing value for money.

He said: “As part of our balanced budget to continue to keep our council tax among the lowest of district councils in the country, we are ensuring charges for using services, like parking, are still good value.

“The average increase across all fees and charges is 3.5 per cent and we look at fees and charges on a line by line basis to ensure fairness and competitiveness against a basket of local and regional councils.

“There is no increase in day time parking charges, or Sunday and bank holiday charges, keeping prices lower town centres in surrounding areas.

“We are continuing to invest in all our service areas, for example car parking charges contribute to improving facilities in car parks, including new ticket machines.”