COUNCIL tax in West Oxfordshire has gone up for the first time in nearly six years.

Members of the district council said the rise was vital to protect services, maintain free car parking and be able to continue providing grants to volunteer groups.

Council leader Sir Barry Norton proposed a new council tax amount of £86.63 for band D households in 2016/17 – an increase of £5 per year.

He added: “This increase will generate a little more than £200,000 in additional income for the district council.

“That’s not enough to cover the cuts and the pressures we face. But it’s enough to enable us to protect key services in addition to our extra funds from our reserves.”

Most members spoke in support of the rise, with all voting for the new budget, except for three abstentions from Labour councillors.

Sir Barry added: “This is still half of the national average, and less than two thirds of Oxford City Council.

“I am confident that we will continue to have the second lowest council tax of all Shire district councils in England and one that is less than half the national average.”

Duncan Enright, leader of the Labour group on the district council, caused a stir at the full council meeting on Wednesday by announcing Labour would be abstaining in the budget vote.

He said: “Labour councillors are pleased to have contributed to the WODC budget.

“However, we believe that in the context of savage cuts to county services such as children’s centres, social care and bus services among others, more could be done to protect our residents by working with the county, town and parish councils.”

Conservative councillor Richard Langridge spoke in support of the budget, which he said was the “best it could be” for this year.

He added: “This has been a very difficult and challenging budget to set out and I think we do have the public with us on this.

“We are also freezing market trader fees to support our market traders and all the work they do.”

West Oxfordshire is the lowest levying of all five district authorities in Oxfordshire. Its annual council tax charge will rise from £81.63 for a band D property to £86.63 – a weekly rise of 10p.