A five per cent increase in most admission fees and charges will help fund Medway council taxes from April.

It will be shared with the higher VAT introduced in January, giving council bosses a few hundred thousand pounds towards their £660 million spending.

Council chiefs revealed on Wednesday night that severe cuts, hyper price rises, increased parking charges, civic fines and feared job cuts running into hundreds have been avoided.

Jobs have gone - 70 already and 97 others are currently being discussed with staff.

The cabinet is expected to approve the most complicated budget in Medway's history when it meets next Tuesday.

The full council will approve it on February 24, meaning this year's tax stays at £1,119.15 for the average Band D property.

Read more details in Friday's Medway Messenger.