PLANS to tackle animal rustling and rural crime, an expansion of the garden waste scheme and recycling centres and the continuation of a welfare assistance scheme were just some of a host of announcements made in Wychavon District Council's budget and strategy for the coming year.

At a meeting of the council's executive board on Tuesday they heard the proposals for the year ahead and moved to put the plans in front of the full council later this month.

One of the major plans for the year ahead included the employment of a new crime co-ordinator and three enforcement officers to the South Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership to tackle rural and business crime.

This is thanks to £200,000 awarded by the Police and Crime Commissioner, which will see the new officers trying to reduce crimes from animal rustling to flytipping.

A major expansion to the existing garden waste scheme was put forward. This will see an increase in the cost of the district's brown bin service by £1, meaning those that pay by direct debit will now pay £44 a year, and for others the new cost will be £49 annually.

There will be an expansion to the recycling centres allowing further items collected such as textiles, shoes and further promotion of how to dispose of small electrical items.

In response to Government cuts and in partnership with Worcestershire County Council, Wychavon will provide £98,000 to continue with the welfare assistance scheme. This will continue to help people in crisis or facing exceptional hardship by providing goods or vouchers for food, energy and furniture.

A £30,000 investment in targeted cleansing to address hotspots in town centres and weed growth clearance on minor roads was also approved.

Plans were also approved to establishing a social lettings agency, known as the Wych Move scheme.

The incoming financial year will see an increase in council tax of 1.99 percent, the equivalent of around £4 a year to the average household.

Cllr Paul Middlebrough, leader of Wychavon, said: "In another year when we will have reductions to our funding it is our belief that sticking to our smart financial management and our Grow, Save, Charge Business Plan has put us in a very advantageous position.

"Using the Grow element of our plan we continue to invest in areas where there is need. I’m very pleased not just with the selection of promises but also our budget proposals for 2015/16. We look forward to Council’s backing of these proposals."