A TRIO of town councils plan to raise tax in a move that will cost the average household around £2 a year.

Last week Epping and Waltham Abbey town councils increased their precept by two and 1.95 per cent respectively, equating to a £1.71 and £2.06 tax hike for band D properties next financial year.

At a meeting on Wednesday evening Loughton Town Council is expected to ask similarly positioned rate payers for an extra £2.43 a year.

Beverley Rumsey, Epping Town Council clerk, said: "This is to keep our reserves at their recommended levels so we can continue to deliver the many services we do and undertake major projects.

"Epping Town Council finance the town’s Christmas lights each year and we are about to refurbish the playground at Parklands, Coopersale. We are also finalising our Neighbourhood Plan to help protect our town.

"It will also cover increasing operational costs as our Local Council Tax Support Grant decreases year on year and enable us to deliver many events and services for the town."

Waltham Abbey Town Council plans to work on Larsen's recreation ground and the war memorial in Farm Hill Road in 2018/19.

From next year authorities will not receive a Local Council Tax Scheme mitigation grant from the central government, leaving them more reliant on council tax and other income streams.