COUNCIL tax payers in Darlington can expect a rise of 4.8pc in the coming year.

The local authority's budget proposals are for a £44.77 increase for a Band D property - up from £932 to £977 - and a rise of £29.85 for a Band A property, owned by most residents in Darlington, up from £621 to £651

Those figures are before any police, fire and parish council precepts are added.

Barry Keel, chief executive, said the budget was trying to achieve a balance between keeping council taxes low and continuing to provide good quality services.

"Over this next year it is likely that we will remain the lowest council tax authority in the region," he claimed.

"But at the same time we are managing to make some very exciting investments which the communities of Darlington have indicated as priorities.

"They include the £35m Haughton education village, £15m investment on roads and pavements, and £3m on upgrading the Dolphin Centre.

Threequarters of the authority's income comes from a central Government grant, but the £80.3m allocated for 2005-6 is not as good as was expected.

As a result, finance chiefs have announced their intention to help fund some services by using part of the council's £6.8m reserves - a move questioned by Tory councillors.

Charles Johnson, Conservative resources spokesman, said: "Setting the budget is going to be a gloomy time for the Labour group. The budget plan for 2005-6 is already in deficit by £2m.

"Savings can be made in the rest of 2004-5 which, it is hoped, will offset some of this deficit and we have to see how much this will be.

"The use of council reserves was ruled out last year by the controlling group as, quote, 'reckless in the extreme', so there would appear to be little option but to cut costs significantly."

There will, however, be £1.3m worth of "efficiency savings" over the course of the year.

Council officials said there would be a £1 rise in the Park Lane long stay car park - up to £3.50 a day - but pledged that there would be no other car park rises.

The council envisages that, by upgrading facilities and installing a new heating system at the Dolphin Centre, running costs will be reduced and income increased.

Slight charge increases are proposed which include general admission from 60p to 70p, swimming from £2.45 to £2.60 per adult and football sessions from £3 to £3.50.

Mr Keel, who has been with the authority for eight years, will leave the council at the end of next month to become chief executive at Plymouth City Council.

He said: "We've set up and established a new authority that's now providing good services with a sound financial base. A lot of people deserve a lot of credit for that."

The recruitment process for a new chief executive is being undertaken and interviews will begin in early April