CRAWLEY residents are facing an inflation-busting rise in council tax bills.

The average Band C tax for the next year is expected to rise by 6.4 per cent from £630.72 to £670.96.

The rise is more than twice the rate of inflation and is the second blow to residents in less than a month.

Crawley Council announced in January that rents would increase by 7.4 per cent from April this year.

But Crawley Council says its share of the new tax bill has only risen by £2.48 to £102.56 a year.

It says the large increase is down to West Sussex County Council and the Sussex Police Authority, whose demands, which add to the final total, have significantly increased this year.

The county is asking for an average of £521.12 a year and the police need £47.28.

Council leader Tony Edwards says its increase of 2.5 per cent is one of the lowest in the county and is due to good financial management.

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He said: "We carried out a full review of services which meant we were able to shave £500,000 off our costs through efficiency savings.

"We are pleased our rise has been kept down even though the overall increase is higher. But unfortunately we have no control over the financial requirements of the county or the police.

"One reason we have done so well is our tax collection rate of about 99 per cent, and we also keep a tight control on spending across all services.

"We are certain our measures will mean that we will continue to provide a good service for all residents in the town."

Acouncil policy and resources committee is expected to give the go-ahead to the new tax levels next Wednesday.

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