A BUDGET has been approved that will see council tax in Denbighshire increase by 4.75 per cent.

Councillors in Denbighshire approved the authority's budget for 2018/19 today (Tuesday). The budget includes an increase of £1.8m (2.7 per cent) in budgets for schools, and an additional allocation of £1.5 million (3.2 per cent) to social care.

Denbighshire County Council say that "further efficiencies in all services" have been identified to help deliver a balanced budget.

As a result of the council tax increase, the average Band D property will mean an increase of £56.58 which equates to £1.08 a week.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, cabinet lead member for finance, said: "A tremendous amount of hard work and consultation has gone into planning for this budget and we are pleased that our efforts have resulted on the budget being approved.

"This has been one of the hardest budgets to work on so far. Whilst the actual reduction from Welsh Government was not as bad as first feared, we need to take into account a number of other factors, such as pressures in pay, pension and the National Living Wage, as well as price/energy inflation, one per cent in fire service levy and allowances for increases to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

"The financial climate continues to be challenging and staff across the Council have found savings that will help us balance the books."

The increase in council tax recognises "specific pressures in social care". The Council said that, as a result of the rise, Denbighshire will be able to invest an additional £1.5m to support the most vulnerable residents.

"We can reassure residents that, despite dwindling budgets, we will continue to work to the best of our ability on providing the best possible services to the public," cllr Thompson-Hill added.