Pensioners said they would only get an extra �2.50 from April

Plymouth City Council announced it was planning an increase of almost 5%, more than double the rate of inflation.

It means the average Band D householder will pay just under �1,000 a year, but that will rise to nearly �1,200 with police and fire service additions.

Pensioners said incomes had not risen as much as the planned increase. The council said it had a "prudent" budget.

Utility increases

Members of the Plymouth branch of the National Pensioners Convention protested against the increase, saying their own pension award was not likely to be anywhere near high enough to compensate the extra outgoings.

Paddy Ryan of the convention said: "We are only getting an extra �2.50 from April.

"That is an insult in view of the increases across the board that have taken place with utilities such as water, and now the council tax.

"It's a cut in living standards for every pensioner."

Plymouth's council leader, Tudor Evans, described it as a "tight but prudent budget".

He added that the council had also worked out a budget that meant funding increases for schools and social services.