FEES and charges for Brentwood Council services - such as leisurefacilities - will increase by one per cent to offset a dramatic cutin revenue.
The council is looking to shave around Pounds 2.75 million fromits budget after being warned that its central Government settlementgrant will be slashed by 17 per cent next year and 13.5 per cent theyear after.
Residents have already been warned that some services will haveto go completely.
But to help further mitigate the cut - significantly higher thanthe average reduction of 9.9 per cent - the council is to increasecharges across a range of services, raising around Pounds 50,000.
Hartswood Golf Course prices are to go up by 50p per round.
The cost of using the paddling pools in King George's playingfields will rise from Pounds 1.10 to Pounds 1.50.
Local mum Lynsay Marder of Shevon Way, Brentwood, said: "Iregularly take my two children to the paddling pool in the summer. Aprice increase of 40p is quite steep, I won't be able to take themas often as I'd like."
Keen golfer Jon Atkinson, 28, of Billericay, frequently plays inthe Brentwood area said: "Me and my friends use the Hartswood coursea lot, I pay Pounds 15 to use it, but if there is a hefty price riseI'll go somewhere else."
Council leader Louise McKinlay said: "Initial figures show thisis the toughest settlement we have ever had to deal with.
"It is going to take some time to look at the full implicationsfor Brentwood.
"Government has only given us figures for the next two years,which also makes it difficult for us to do any accurate long-termplanning yet."
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