Council tax will be frozen for the sixth year running, despite cuts to funding.

Another round of spending cuts announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will leave Hertsmere Borough Council with a cut in funding of 1.9 per cent, just above the national average of 1.8 per cent.

Announcing the settlement in the House of Commons yesterday, local government minister Kris Hopkins described the settlement as “fair for all parts of the country, whether north or south, urban or rural”.

Most of the authority’s funding comes from central government, with about a quarter raised through council tax.

Councillor John Graham, who is responsible for finance and property, said: “Despite the settlement, we remain in a sound position to continue to deliver our services without any adverse impact as a result of careful financial planning.

“We did anticipate the reduction in funding, and the budget for 2015/16 on which we will be consulting proposes a council tax freeze for a sixth consecutive year.”

The county's police and crime commissioner David Lloyd added that the policing element of the council tax will also remain frozen next year, for the fourth year in succession.

He said: “The Hertfordshire Police Grant Settlement for 2015/16, on first analysis, falls within our financial planning limits – albeit being on the less generous side of our expectations.

“For some forces across the country the loss of money announced through this grant settlement could have an impact on viability in short term, however this will not be the case in Hertfordshire.

“Through continuing careful financial planning, extension of collaborated working and planned use of financial reserves we will, in the short to medium term, be able to recruit further police officers to front line roles and invest in key areas of demand such as tackling domestic abuse, countering child sexual exploitation and fraud.”