Spending proposals that will shape next spring's council tax bills have been agreed by two Stroud councils.

An increase of 1.9 per cent in the Stroud District Council part of the total bill has been put forward at a cabinet meeting at Ebley Mill.

But Stroud Town Council agreed to request a zero rise in its precept for the next financial year.

The district's cabinet member for finance Councillor Nigel Cooper (Con, Rodborough) said the extra money, equivalent to 7p a week for an average Stroud household, would pay for better homelessness prevention, household energy efficiency and climate change initiatives.

"Stroud District Council's proportion of the (total) council tax bill is 12 per cent, with the rest going to the Gloucestershire County Council, Gloucestershire Police Authority, and parish and town councils," Mr Cooper said.

"Under the proposals, which need to be approved at the January 2010 council meeting, an average Band D household would pay £186.93 a year to Stroud District Council – £3.49 more than this year."

Stroud Town Council finance committee chairman Dave Cockcroft said his authority had planned 14 new initiatives despite its standstill budget.

"Councillors agreed to recommend a budget of £551,870. For the second year running, this will mean a zero increase in the parish precept," Mr Cockcroft said.

Two of the new town projects reflect the priorities set by local residents following last year's town survey. One is £17,500 over three years to improve facilities at the Merrywalks bus station, plus a new bus shelter at Paganhill and new seating for passengers in Rowcroft. The other is the continued improvement of Stroud's public green spaces.

"Although the town council precept only makes up a small percentage of the overall council tax bill, in the current economic climate it is only right that we set a good example," Mr Cockcroft said.

On Friday The Citizen revealed Gloucestershire County Council was proposing a 2.3 per cent rise.