COUNCIL tax rates in Wear Valley are the seventh highest of any district in the country, even though this year's increase has been pegged back to nine per cent.

Cuts of £450,000 in the authority's £10m budget were agreed last week and a report from directors predicted even grimmer times next year.

Savings are being made at Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex and in the council's arts budget. Street entertainment and artists in schools programmes, other arts support projects and Bishop Auckland's Summer Music Festival will either be reduced or cancelled.

A small number of jobs will be lost and some posts will be downgraded. And there is little cash to tackle vital issues such as social exclusion and improving council services.

But council house rents rise by £1.31 a week, car parking charges are increased and new fees come in for exclusive grave space and collecting bulky waste items.

Council leader Olive Brown said: "We are the most deprived rural district in the country and until we get some help from somewhere we will face even more difficult times.

"It is about time the Government realised that there are small local authorities like us who cannot compete with the larger boroughs."

Because the district council collects tax for both Durham County Council and Durham Police Authority, the amount charged to Wear Valley residents is going up by more than 13 per cent.

Excluding parish precepts, people in Band A will pay £715.31; Band B £834.52; Band C £953.74; Band D £1,072.96; Band E £1,311.40; Band F £1,549.83; Band G £1,788.27; Band H £2,145.92.