MALVERN Hills Conservators will be raising its precept by 5.4 per cent this year.

The decision was approved by 11 votes to seven, with one abstention, at a meeting of the full board yesterday and it is the first increase since 2009/10.

It will see the charity’s precept demand rise from £375,880 to £396,170 for the coming financial year.

Based on the 2011/12 household numbers the charge for the average band D property would be £27.72, though the conservators expect this figure to fall when Malvern Hills District Council assesses the number of households later this month.