Households in Dartford will see a significant chunk of their total council tax bill frozen for a second year running.

A tax freeze has been approved to keep fees paid to Conservative-run Dartford council at the same level for the next financial year.

It means those in the average property – band D – will continue to pay £181 towards the borough council element of their tax bill.

Councillors voted to pass the proposed budget last night at a meeting held in the Civic Centre where it was also agreed there would be no cuts to council services.

This includes services like housing, weekly refuse collection, sport and leisure facilities, street cleaning and parks.

For every pound collected from the average council tax bill 9p goes towards borough council services.

The rest is divided between Kent County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and in some cases, town and parish councils.

Leader of Dartford council Jeremy Kite said: “Most other councils are putting up tax this year but we have concluded that we can manage without any increase.

“We don’t look around to see what other councils are doing and we don’t follow the herd.

“If we ever do need to put council tax up we’ll be honest and open about it, but we’re not planning any change this year.

“I hope our decision offers a little help to households across the borough.”

But despite this move average bill payers in Dartford will still face being hit in the pocket.

It comes after controversial hikes were approved by a majority of Kent County councillors during a heated debate at the Kent Showground in Maidstone last month.

Band D households face paying an extra £43 per year compared to the last financial year, rising from £1,418 to £1,461.

This equates to a 2.99% increase, equal to 81p per week extra.

KCC's Conservative administration says this will help to meet increased spending on adult social care and cover costs that cannot be met by government funding alone.

Opposition parties, including Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens, warned the financial security for households is looking "increasingly bleak" this year amid major tax hikes across the board for energy, food and councils.

Further details of the Dartford council approved budget are available to view here.