COUNCIL tax is set to rise after Wiltshire Council, the police and nearly all town councils announced increases to charges for the next financial year.

The tax on all households is calculated by combining the precept charges set by county, town and parish councils, and those set by police and fire authorities.

Council tax on an average band D household is expected to rise by between £91.94 and £97.67 a year in 2018.

Devizes residents are set to see the largest increase in East Wiltshire – a £97.67 increase – after the town council increased its precept by £5.73 a year to £153, up 3.87 per cent from last year.

Marlborough town council has increased its precept by £5.30 from £182.67 in 2017 to £187.97 and Chippenham town council has set its precept at £174.20 for 2018, an increase of £5.07.

Calne town council is the only one across the county which has not imposed any increase, but remains the highest town council precept at £210 a year.

The largest proportion of the council tax increase has come from a rise in the precept set by Wiltshire Council.

Band D households will see their annual contribution towards services run by the council rise a total of £79.94, from £1,334.63 in 2017 to £1,414.57 in 2018.

Councillors will be asked to approve the increase at a full council meeting on February 20.

This year the council has had to make £25.6m of savings due to increased demand for services such as adult social care, increases in staff wages and the continued reduction in financial support from central government.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook, council leader, said: “Each year we face the tough challenge of balancing the budget to ensure that we can allocate sufficient funding to deliver our priorities.Continuing to protect those who are most vulnerable is a growing challenge, but one that we are committed to prioritising.”

The Police Crime Commissioner has increased the crime element of council tax by £1 a month for Band D households, from £14.19 to £15.19 a month.

PCC Angus Macpherson said that increasing demand on the force and a cut in £19m from central government since 2010 meant that more money needed to be taken through council tax. The increase will generate £3m that will be spent on its 445 police officers and 131 Police community support officers.

Mr Macpherson said: “Unfortunately this will not mean more officers on the beat; however it certainly will not mean any less. And whilst we’re able to maintain our services this year, we’re hopeful of being able to invest a substantial sum into them next year.”

A final council tax figure will be released once Dorset and Wiltshire Fire service announce its precept.