PLANS to set the council tax rate for Derwentside were put on hold because of the wintry weather yesterday.

Derwentside District councillors were due to meet in Consett to set the annual budget, but with several members snowbound, the meeting was cancelled.

This year's council tax will now be fixed at a council meeting, in Consett Civic Centre, on Monday.

Meanwhile, council leader Councillor Alex Watson has stressed that the planned 4.6 per cent council tax increase will take into account bus passes for the elderly.

Under current legislation, over-65s have to pay £11 each for their bus pass, but later this year that will be abolished.

Instead, everyone aged over 60 will get a free pass, paid for by local authorities.

Mr Watson said the £20,000 cost to the council contributed to the council tax increase