TAXPAYERS in one area of Cleveland look likely to have a break for the third-year running.

At an executive meeting yesterday, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's chief executive, Colin Moore, said the authority has once again "a good chance" of not increasing the authority's part of the council tax bill next year.

The news was a boost to Labour leaders, who hold the council by a tight margin, ahead of next year's May elections which will follow the budget set in March.

However, opposition leaders will point to the fact that the council has been criticised in recent years for charging the second highest council tax in the UK, although the tax levy is now the twenty third highest in the country.

The update on the latest budget projections came after the Government announced last week that the borough would be receiving an eight per cent rise in funding, an increase on previous years.

Council tax payers in Redcar and Cleveland council's area, and elsewhere in Cleveland, are still likely to face rises due to increases in police and fire service costs.

Speaking to the executive committee, chief executive Mr Moore said: "In each of the last two years we have not increased the council tax.

"However, we have invested substantial sums in services. If you did still decide to raise the council tax this year all the rise should, on current projections, be able to go into improved services.

"It looks pretty good, but there are still plenty of things that could go wrong," he warned