ST ALBANS: No increase in the St Albans council share of the annual council tax bill is expected this year.

St Albans cabinet is recommending a freeze on the district’s council tax precept in 2012/13 while pushing ahead with a list of priorities for the coming year..

The district’s share of overall council tax bills is around 12 per cent with the bulk of the remainder going to Herts county council and smaller amounts to the police authority, fire and rescue and town and parish councils.

Among the priorities which St Albans cabinet is asking full council to ratify next month is the rebuilding of the Batchwood Golf and Bowls club and the bulk of the tennis centre after last year’s fire, the opening of Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, completion of Verulamium Park cycle paths, increasing recycling to more than 60 per cent and developing affordable housing on six garage sites in London Colney.