HOUSEHOLDERS in Rossendale pay some of the highest council tax rates in the country, it has been revealed.

But council bosses today assured residents that savings had been made in every Rossendale council department to help even out the figures.

The news comes after a survey, compiled for internet site MSN -- part of Hotmail, revealed that Rossendale came eighth out of a league table of more than 200 other authorities based on figures for 2003/04.

The survey disclosed that people living in a Band D property in the valley paid on average £1,233.44 compared to the highest council tax rate in the country -- Sedgefield whose residents pay £1,293.73.

Last year people in Rossendale were outraged when they were told their council tax would be increased by 17.9 per cent.

People felt they weren't getting value for their money after the council was branded bottom out of 237 other performing authorities in the 2002 Audit Commission Report.

The report led to the council announcing it was to axe five of it's main leisure facilities as a cost-cutting exercise.

The beleaguered authority was also previously named as one of the worst authorities for collecting council tax in 2001. But then it was included among the 20 most improved the following year after raising collection levels from 91.6 per cent to 93.9 per cent.

Councillors are set to agree to a 4.95 per cent increase at the council meeting tomorrow.

Paul Bayes, Rossendale Council's revenue's manager, who is responsible for collecting council tax said the 'reasonable' increase will be music to the ears of residents who have previously been hit hard in the pocket by the annual rises. He also assured residents that services would not be affected because of this year's low increase.

He said: "Management have insisted that savings were made in every council department to fund the reduction but that does not mean that services will be affected."

He added: "This year we are looking at a 4.95 per cent increase so I think when Lancashire County Council, the police and the fire brigade add their increases we will be looking at an overall five per cent increase. Last year people in the valley faced a substantial increase at 17.9 per cent.

It's a hot political issue at the moment.

Most authorities will be looking at single-figure increases this year to prevent facing the prospect of being capped by the Government."

The council tax figure will be set at tomorrow's Rossendale Council meeting.

The highest local authority council tax rates in the country for 2003/04 are: Sedgefield £1,293.73; Eastbourne £1,290.49; Richmond-upon-Thames £1,268.23; Newcastle-upon-Tyne £1,240.60; Gateshead £1,237.61; Salford £1,236.96; Rutland £1,236.17; Rossendale £1,233.74 and Harrow £1,225.56.

Lowest rates in the country for the same period are: Westminster £570.16; Wandsworth £584.03; Northamptonshire £794.24; Cambridgeshire £797.40; Cornwall £781.65; Lincolnshire £810.00; Flintshire £820.16 and Worcestershire £822.35.