A Suffolk authority has voted provisionally to increase council tax for the first time since 2010.

Councillors on Mid Suffolk District Council’s executive committee approved the 1.72% rise as part of their draft budget proposals for 2014/15 when they met in a meeting earlier today.

The increase would mean residents living in Band D properties would pay no more than 5p on top of their existing bill.

Last week council bosses said the planned increase, which is less than inflation, was needed to “protect and enhance” future services.

In today’s meeting councillors also voted in favour of a provisional “limited” increase in council house rent levels.

The council is now set to meet next month to give its final decision on both the planned council tax and rent rises.

An automatic referendum takes place when an authority puts forward a council tax rise of 1.99% or more.

The Government is due to announce what the trigger point for a referendum will be for 2014/15 budgets.