HOUSEHOLDS in Oxfordshire will pay an average of £2.59 more each month in council tax from April, it was revealed last night.

Oxfordshire County Council – which levies the largest share of council tax – said 2010-11 bills would increase by 2.75 per cent this year, or 60p a week for a Band D property, when they are sent out in April.

That means those living in an average band D property will pay the authority £1,161.71 – an increase of £31.09 on 2009-10 bills.

However, final bills will be higher, once precepts levied by district, parish and town councils and Thames Valley Police are added.

Bus driver and father-of-one Jason Sherriff, 35, of Jack Argent Close, Greater Leys, said: “The increase is quite a lot of money if you work it out over the course of a year.

“I wouldn’t mind if they provided a proper service, but the children around here haven’t got anywhere. I have lived on the estate all my life and when I was a child we had lots of facilities – these days there doesn’t seem to be a lot for children to do.”

The county council, which is responsible for education, the fire service, transport and social services, receives about 30 per cent of its income from the tax, with most of the rest coming in government grants.

Last year, County Hall suggested its share of the bill would increase by 3.75 per cent in April, but it has settled on a lower increase at a time when it is aiming to make savings totalling £103m until 2015.

The authority is still waiting to hear how much money it will receive from the Government for the next year.

However, it has promised to increase spending on social care to deal with an ageing population.

Only those pensioners receiving pension credits will get a reduction in their bill.

The basic state pension is currently £95.25 a week for a single person and £152.30 for a couple.

Council leader Keith Mitchell said: “It has been a very difficult balancing act. We know the Government will cut national funding in future years and we have been open at every stage of our planning over the past nine months.”

Bill Jupp, 78, of Arlington Drive, Old Marston, said: “Council tax is a burden and yet again we will see pensioners struggling to pay bills. The increase in the state pension doesn’t keep pace with increases in council tax. It’s time local government officials started to take notice of that.”