SEDGEMOOR District Council (SDC) has elected to increase council tax by £5 per year but has promised no cuts its public services.

At a meeting of the Full Council today, (Wednesday, February 20) members voted to approve the balanced budget with an increase of £5 per year on a Band D property, taking the total share of Sedgemoor District Council's of the precept to £125.78 on an average Band D property.

Other measures included include an additional £35,000 to Citizens Advice to help with the impact of Universal Credit on residents, after withdrawal of monies by Somerset County Council, and a further £60,000 to support the work of the Homelessness team.

There was also £2m capital per annum set aside to build new council houses as well as £50,000 to deliver the projects, as well as £1m for housing projects with partners to facilitate building new homes.

Elsewhere £250,000 per year over two years will go towards raising the standards in SDC's housing stock which is managed by Homes in Sedgemoor.

A total of £150,000 will continue to fund the council's successful apprentice scheme - to date 20 staff have come through the scheme since its inception four years ago.

An extra £120,000 over two years will be used to implement a new Graduate Apprentice scheme.

Sedgemoor District Council is also investing a total of £4.8m over six years in its digital transformation programme.

A council spokesman said: "This programme puts our customers at the centre of all we do and helps to build a Council of the future that is modern, flexible and efficient.

"The council's overriding principle is to create digital opportunities through 'Digital by Choice,' where customers can access our services online, through any device, at any time of day. At the same time, we pledge to leave no customer behind."

"Success with Business Rates growth and pilot application has meant that Sedgemoor is estimating retaining a further £1m from its local Business Rates.

"This is in addition to the £1.4m it has retained from business growth across the district."