Harrow Borough Council has sought to end confusion over whether its council tax bill will rise next year.

Last week the council denied claims by Tory group leader Councillor Susan Hall that the tax is to be increased by two per cent.

Now the council’s portfolio holder for finance Councillor Sachin Shah has explained that confusion arose because last week’s draft budget contained references to a two per cent rise, but that this is just a default figure.

Cllr Shah said the council has used that figure provisionally, but no decision will be made until the Government announces how much it will give the authority on December 19.

Cllr Shah also reassured people that in each of the past two years the draft budget mentioned two per cent council tax rises but that the tax had been frozen both years.

Cllr Shah described rumours of a rise as "totally unfounded" but said if was "disappointing" that the council was having to wait until December 19, almost a month later than in the past.