Service fees to rise in Taunton Deane

Parking charges, crematorium fees and fees for planning applications in a Somerset borough are to increase, it has been announced.

Cash for tourism, conservation and plants in Taunton Deane will be cut back as part of £1.6m of savings by Taunton Deane Borough Council.

The Conservative-run authority has announced plans to freeze its share of council tax from April.

Eight jobs will be lost, in addition to 50 cut in the last three years.

The spokesman said the 0% council tax increase would be recommended to the full council in February.

Councils that freeze council tax are eligible for a grant equivalent to a 2.5% increase in their share of the levy.