Residents across North Somerset have been promised that council tax bills will not rise by more than four per cent next year. A meeting on

Residents across North Somerset have been promised that council tax bills will not rise by more than four per cent next year. A meeting on Tuesday (Dec 19) of North Somerset Council's executive committee approved the draft budget but said they would continue to lobby Government for more cash.Ideas for generating more money included allowing The Playhouse in Weston to stay open during the day to serve more coffee and cutting the amount some councillors get paid. Executive member for finance, Councillor Mike Bell said: "Against poor levels of Government funding, placing us as one of the lowest funded unitary authorities in the country, we are still striving to provide the best possible services for our residents without hitting them where it hurts - in the pocket."The budget will aim to make overall savings of up to £8.5million without cutting services. However, there was some disagreement at the Town Hall about what 'uncertainties' remain, specifically regarding the cost of the number of bus passes for North Somerset's ageing population.Cllr Nigel Ashton said: "At present there are so many risks with this budget I can only presume we will not be implementing it next year."The draft budget will now go before council policy and scrutiny committees in January before approval at a full council meeting in February.