Council tax in Banstead looks set to be frozen for the next financial year after no increase was recommended.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s share of the annual council tax bill could be frozen at last year’s rate, after the executive agreed to recommend no increase.

If the proposal is accepted at a full council meeting on Thursday (February 11), it will be first time in the council’s history there has been no rise, and the council’s share of the council tax bill for 2010 and 2011 would remain at £193.83, or £3.72 a week for a Band D average household.

Councillor Victor Broad, deputy leader of the council and executive member for finance, said: “To enable this to happen we have worked hard to make substantial savings of over £2 million in our annual budget, which for next year will be £18.3 million.

“We have examined the way we deliver services, our staffing levels and wage bill, making efficiency savings and improving effectiveness where possible, without compromising the services that we provide. We are also still on target to deliver our ambitious plans for new community and leisure facilities that residents have been promised.”

The council gets just 13 per cent of the annual council tax bill because the bulk of the money collected goes to Surrey County Council (74 per cent) and Surrey Police (13 per cent).