COUNCIL tax rises of around five per cent are being predicted for Burnley and Pendle residents.

Council bosses in Burnley say they avoided a larger rise despite being forced to swing the axe to the tune of £1m in a number of departments after receiving a smaller than expected finance settlement from the Government and a massive overspend.

Lancashire County Council have set their rise at 3.5 per cent, which will be added to Burnley and Pendle Borough Council's figure for the overall rate. The police and the fire authority will also decide on increases later this week which will be added to the final bills.

The three parishes of Cliviger, Padiham and Worsthorne with Hurstwood also intend to issue precepts, which will be added to bills in those areas.

If the plans are rubber-stamped at a meeting of Burnley Council next week it would see the council tax rise to £1,294.52 for a Band D property.

Councillors in Pendle have also agreed a rise of 5.94 per cent which will mean a bill of £1,292.85 for a Band D property. Those plans will also be rubber stamped next week.

Councillors in both boroughs set their rate rises at special budget meetings of the executive yesterday.

Members in Burnley said the five per cent rise had only been achievable after a huge amount of work in the face of the swingeing cuts.

Leader Stuart Caddy said: "We have made savings of £900,000. It has been a tremendous effort and although it has not been easy we still have a level of services we can be proud of."

Proposals to save more than £1m on Burnley Council budget were outlined last year after bosses revealed a massive projected shortfall.

Arts and leisure services and parks were set to be hardest hit by the cuts with bosses told to slash more than £300,000 from spending plans.

The arts and leisure department must find £146,884 and parks £174,187.

Also likely to be hit are support and member services, told to cut £118,039 and information services £108,633.