COUNCIL tax should not rise this year – that is the view of Winchester City Council’s cabinet.

Leading members of the Lib Dem-run authority discussed the budget on Wednesday (February 9), which will be set later this month.

The authority revealed last autumn that around 70 jobs would go in an effort to balance the books.

Not only is the council set to receive less money from Westminster, but it also has a target of keeping council tax frozen.

Several parish councils are also planning to avoid rises this year, a written report to the cabinet revealed.

Of 47 parishes in the district, 12 are cutting taxes and two – Beauworth and Chilcomb – will continue charging nothing at all.

Where increases are proposed, most are below inflation. The parishes with double digit rises are Boarhunt, Curdridge, Exton, Hambledon, Otterbourne, Sparsholt, Upham and Whiteley.

The largest average annual bills will be in Bishop’s Waltham at £123.23, Denmead at £120.59 and New Alresford at £106.29p.

Residents in Winchester itself will pay an average of £61.32 to the Town Forum, which remains unchanged.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, who leads the city council, said they had tried to save money where possible.

It includes lower IT costs and a cheaper deal on environmental services thanks to linking up with East Hampshire District Council.

The authority also plans to reduce community grants, cutting the money given to such groups as the Hat Fair and Theatre Royal by 25 per cent.

Several organisations backed by the council are based at the Winchester Centre in St George’s Street, which faces closure, the cabinet heard.

Winchester Area Community Action (Waca), which runs it, has asked to close the venue due to rising costs, the Chronicle revealed earlier this month.

Waca will now work with the council to find alternative homes for the dozen-or-so charities based in the centre.

Due to its likely closure, Cllr Learney told the cabinet that a proposed facelift of the Casson Block, where it is based, was on hold.

“It would be really stupid to spend money in an area that we may, in the future, be looking at a major revamp,” she said.

The council has declined to identify potential bidders for the centre, which opened 15 years ago.

The annual budget for the authority is due to be set on Thursday, February 24.