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Council tax goes up
Council tax bills in Dacorum will be going up by 0.6 per cent.
The average band D bill will rise by 10 to 1,437.02 compared to 1,427.87 last year.
The rise is so low because Herts County Council froze its part of the bill - which makes up the lion's share - and Conservative-controlled Dacorum Borough Council has agreed a 2.5 per cent increase.
During a heated full meeting of the council an opposition bid to lower the increase to 2.28 per cent was voted down.
The Liberal Democrats said the cut could made by reducing the frequency of council magazine Dacorum Digest from four to two editions a year.
They also called for Hemel Hempstead to be given parish councils so residents could have more say over community services.
Group leader Denise Rance said: "If Hemel Hempstead were parished along with the borough, communities in Hemel Hempstead could set their own budgets to spend on local issues.
"If you want a service you have to pay for it and we should give people the choice."
Councillor Nick Hollinghurst said the council's magazine was filled with 'dross'.
"It would be quite easy to give sufficient high quality information on a fewer number of occasions in the year," he said. "We would save money and get the message across if we cut out all the dross."
The Labour group attacked 1.2million worth of cuts in the budget, including 34,000 of savings from the Dacorum Card, which gives discounts to those on benefits.
Group leader Keith White said: "It's an Easyjet budget - if you want any more than the minimum you have to put your hand in your pocket."
However, proposals to axe funding to PCSOs were ditched in favour of scaling back arts education projects.
Council leader Andrew Williams: "This budget continues to protect frontline services as much as possible."
A total budget of 20.15million was agreed.
Herts Police Authority's share of the council tax bill will rise by 3.5 per cent.
Parish councils also levy a precept.
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Weather for Hemel Hempstead
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -6 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to -0 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South east
