BLACKBURN with Darwen Council decided to freeze its share of residents’ council tax bills on Monday with Ribble Valley and Chorley councillors due to follow suit.

Although Rossendale, Hyndburn and Pendle borough’s have all pegged their levy at last year’s level, increases in the ‘precepts’ imposed by the police, Fire and Rescue Authority and the county mean that all of East Lancashire households face a bigger bill from April 1.

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Burnley council has already opted for a 1.99 per cent increase meaning its charge on an average family home in Band D will increase from the 2014/15 level of £267.50 to £272.58.

This means that with 1.99 per cent rises from Lancashire Police and County Council and 1.9 per cent by the fire authority, the total annual bill will rise from £1,594.85 to £ 1,626.38.

In Blackburn with Darwen, as a unitary authority the only one of the seven East Lancashire boroughs unaffected by the Lancashire county levy, the overall bill for a Band D family home including the fire and police levies will rise to £1,490.77 before any parish council charges.

Last night Ribble Valley and Chorley councils were rubber stamping recommendations to freeze their council tax levels at £140.69 and £158.39 for a Band D property respectively.

This means for 2015/2016 the average total bill will be £1,511.16 (up from £1,484.85) in Ribble Valley and £1,512,09 (up from £1,485.74) in Chorley.

In Rossendale, the total Band D household bill for the coming year will be £1,607 with a borough contribution of £253.40. Residents of Whitworth will pay an extra £23.01.

Pendle froze its council tax last month at £240.38 meaning a total annual bill without any parish precept, of £1,594.08.

Hyndburn borough’s portion of council tax for a Band D home remains £230.52 making a total bill of £1,584.22.

The Lancashire Constabulary rise of 1.99 per cent will add 6p a week to the typical household bill across all seven boroughs, an annual total of £159.06.

The county fire and rescue authority rise means Band D homes across East Lancashire will pay £64.86 towards its costs.

The Lancashire County Council rise means a precept of £1,129.78 in Ribble Valley, Burnley., Hyndburn, Rossendale, Pendle and Chorley.

Darwen Town Council has frozen its annual precept for the coming year giving residents a total bill of £1,504.40 in Band D.

The average annual bill for Blackburn with Darwen’s parishes ranges from £1,496.47 to £1,522.61 in 2015/2016.