PLANS to increase council tax at County Hall have been scrapped.

Essex County Council is now looking to freeze its share of the charge for the fourth year in a row.

It replaces an initial proposal to increase council tax by 1.49 per cent - an average of £16.19p on a Band D home.

Fresh figures on council tax collection provided by district and borough councils showed County Hall was due to received £10million more than expected, allowing the rise to be axed.

The authority has also announced more spending plans for the next financial year.

Flood management will be given a £2million boost and the Essex School Improvement Fund will have an addition £1million added to it.

A further £4.8million will be spent on roads tackling the impact of the bad weather, including pot holes and drainage.