ROSSENDALE people will get the chance to have a direct input into the council tax issue if they attend one of four open budget meetings to be held in January.

The new tax in April will be set by councillors after the talks.

The authority has already revealed that the government grant, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the bill, was generous, but increased waste disposal costs, National Insurance contributions and the cost of employing extra benefits staff could still mean a large increase.

Councillor Graham Pearson, council leader, said: "This is part of the more open approach we will work to in the future.

"We have the option of increasing some spending and reducing some spending. We will be open with the figures and open with the options -- which could include spending more on flood prevention.

"Our intention is to listen to people's views and then make the difficult decision on council tax levels. We do need to test general opinion as well as build trust once more between the council and the public."

Labour members have already looked at the books and Conservatives will hold their own meeting in early January. Town hall trade unions will meet with councillors in mid January.

Councillor Pearson added that the backlog in processing council tax benefit and housing benefit claims should have disappeared by early March.

New council tax bills will be discussed by the Corporate Policy Committee on February 10 and finally approved on February 24.