At the Budget meeting, Fareham Council raised its tax again, with a £5 increase for band D properties.

Lib Dems supported the budget as a whole because of the need to maintain services.

But Lib Dem opposition leader Roger Price had concerns about the tax increase. Cllr Price said: ‘This will be the third year in a row that the council has increased council tax beyond the rate of inflation.

‘Sadly, residents’ incomes do not increase beyond inflation. In some cases they don’t even match inflation.

‘Therefore these increases could cause more people to get into arrears with their council tax payments.