THE FOREST of Dean District Council have passed their 2019/20 budget for the next financial year – but only after a number of accusations between political parties in the chamber at Coleford council offices on Thursday night.

The Conservatives tried to stop the budget going through by voting it down, but motion was passed.

Council Tax will rise by 2.99 per cent for the year 2019/20 which will see a £5.20 rise on charges for a Band D property within the district.

The revised district council budget is £10.498 million which is a reduction of £357,000 from last year’s net budget.

But, with the ruling Rainbow Coalition at the authority using up the council’s savings – ‘reserves’ – to keep the Council Tax down and avoid service cuts to balance the books, they came in for criticism from the Conservatives on the council.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER