LYME Regis Town Council has agreed to freeze its share of the council tax charge for next year.

The authority will also take on a reduction in grants from West Dorset District Council - and will not pass the difference onto taxpayers.

The town council's share of the council tax precept will remain at £120,708 - shared amongst Lyme Regis residents for next year.

Town clerk John Wright said: "It is an objective of this council to hold that precept for the life of the council.

"The precept includes a council tax support grant from West Dorset District Council, which is being phased out by 2018/19.

"This grant reduction is absorbed by this council and not passed on to local council tax payers."

The town council also agreed the authority's budget for the next financial year.

Hourly car parking charges at Monmouth Beach and Cabanya car parks will increase by 20 per cent, estimated to bring in an extra £60,000 of income.

Site licences for caravans will also be raised by 25 per cent, along with a £350 charge for car parking - despite a recommendation that councillors raise the charge by 2.5 per cent.

Cllr Richard Doney said: "The idea we just raise things by inflation is a non-starter. "We know they sell quickly. Putting up site licences by 25 per cent is not going to hurt anybody. The increase is easily manageable in my opinion."

An allocation of £25,000 has been put into next year's budget for two apprentices, while £1,000 will be used to tackle problems with seagulls.

Money has also been budgeted to upgrade car parking machines.

Cllr Brian Larcombe praised the budget, which he said would allow money spent by tourists to be used for the benefit of local residents.

He said: "This is a standstill budget.

"It is easy to say that the town council has a great deal of income from tourists and we have to maintain a balance there.

"What they bring to the town goes back to the residents of the town, who effectively give up the town to tourists in the summer. It is a very carefully though out balance."

Mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Owen Lovell said that despite the precept charge being held, in real terms, it was being decreased.

Cllr Lovell said: "It is actually being reduced.

"We are actually reducing the precept by subsidising grants from West Dorset District Council that we no longer get."