SURREY County Council looks set to increase its demand on tax payers by almost three per cent in April, rejecting the 2.5 per cent council tax freeze grant on offer from the Government.

The council, expected to be among a small minority of councils to reject the freeze, says it is "taking a stand" in order to save the county from a financial black hole which would amount to £70m over five years.

It has described the grant as "short-term gain for long-term pain".

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.