Braintree Council’s spending plans for the coming year have been approved by councillors.

Around £1.6 million of funding has been allocated for specific projects like refreshing play equipment, replacing waste vehicles and improving cultural facilities.

Further cash is set to be given to bigger infrastructure projects in the next year, such as £1.6million for the Manor Street redevelopment.

An average household will pay £4.95 more per year to pay for the spending plans - a rise of just under three per cent - the third year in a row of a near maximum increase being implemented by the council.

The council claims it must increase council tax because of the anticipated £2.5 million central government funding reduction in 2020.

Leader of Braintree Council Graham Butland said: “Our three guiding principles in setting the budget are to protect services for residents, increase efficiency and find new ways of raising income and to invest in capital schemes which will enable the district to continue to grow.

“I believe that the approach we are taking is a fine example of as to how local government should be working to make itself self-sustaining.”

Mr Butland called for the council tax referendum limit of three per cent to be abolished and for more control to be given to authorities like Braintree Council.

Leader of the Labour group Phil Barlow said nationally run services were also severely lacking funding

He said: “I believe we need to see a funding review which takes a whole system approach covering the NHS, social care and public health.

“It needs to address the immediate need for funding and take a long-term view in explaining the scale of rising demand.”

Council members approved plans to buy the land for a new 2,000 job business park off the A131 in Great Notley.

A massive £100,000 will be spent on a new heating system at Braintree Museum and £490,000 was allocated for replacing food waste collection vehicles next summer.

£120,000 will be spent improving play areas in Spa Road, Witham, and Meadowside, Braintree.

Around £40,000 in funding was allocated for the refurbishment of Silver End Pavillion.

Ward member James Abbott said: “The project needed a group to get it going to act as a catalyst for this project, but the principle is the same as when I asked several years ago – it is a vital facility that we need to get into multiple use.”

Plans to scrap recycling calendars were dropped at the request of a group of councillors.

The authority’s budget proposals for 2018 to 2019 were approved at meeting of full council on Monday. Labour Party members abstained from the vote on the plans.