RESIDENTS in Pill and Easton-in-Gordano will see their council tax rise to help pay for youth provision in the two villages.

The parish council has decided to increase the amount it requests from householders by 5 per cent during the next financial year after three years of no increases.

Due to the many cuts North Somerset Council is making, the parish council has been working to find a way to allow youth services to continue running in Pill and Easton-in-Gordano.

At a parish council meeting on January 23, councillors decided that although there were a number of savings which could be made, there would still be a �5,000 gap in youth funding. The 5 per cent increase in council tax will cover this gap.

Parish council chairman Andy Jopp said: “The youth club, youth drop-in and Play Ranger schemes are valuable assets in the village, which we want to see continue.”

The increase will see the amount to be paid by a Band D household toward local services rise from �48.64 per year to �50.59.

* Click on the link at the top right of this story to see more details about plans for youth services in Pill.