Waverley's executive has agreed to back a proposed rise in Council Tax and other charges to the full council, which will meet to make the final decision on the authority's 2021-22 budget on February 23rd.

Finance, Assets and Commercial Services portfolio holder Mark Merryweather told fellow councillors at Wednesday night's meeting: "From the very outset of this pandemic we have experienced extraordinary demands on our resources not only to maintain our normal services but also to take on new ones starting from scratch. I would like to publicly commend and acknowledge the whole [finance] team for the work that they have done. "

If the proposals are agreed by full council, the average Band D household in Waverley will pay £5 more in Council Tax in the next financial year.

The Council Tax Support Scheme will stay in place, and the council says it will "continue to allocate additional Government support to help those council taxpayers most financially affected by the pandemic."

Councillors also agreed to recommend a 1.25% rise in council rents from April 1st and a 50p per week rise in rents for council garages. People living in senior living accommodation will also face rises of 30p per week for service charges and a 50p per week rise in energy costs.

The final decision will be made by the full council at its meeting on February 23rd.