Nine out of 10 people asked are happy with the proposed increase in council tax in the Telford & Wrekin area, authority chiefs have claimed today.

Telford & Wrekin Council is expected to rubber-stamp an increase of 1.9 per cent next month – the smallest rise for a decade and a figure equivalent to 31 pence per week more for the average household.

But despite the hike council leader Councillor Andrew Eade said the results from a series of consultation events held around the borough proved the majority of the public were backing what they were doing.

He said: “The consultation shows that 86 per cent of people are satisfied with the way we’re running things. This is 18 per cent more than just a year ago and shows that we are making progress but that we still have a lot more to do.

“There’s also overwhelming support for our budget and its investment into the areas that residents say are their top priorities.

“This budget will see the lowest council tax bill increase for more than a decade, continuing our commitment to do all we can to reduce increases in council tax, while delivering on key investments that will focus on people’s priorities and kick start the much needed regeneration of the borough.”

Council officers asked more than 1,000 people for their views on the proposals.

Bosses said the results showed 85 per cent supported the majority of the budget proposals, while 83 per cent backed the council’s regeneration programme of borough towns.

The interviewers also asked people where they would most like the cash from the council budget to be spent – and top of the tree was crime and safety, maintaining roads and pavements, providing social services for older people and adults and education.

By Wayne Beese