County councillors have voted to freeze council tax year for the fifth year in a row.

Hertfordshire County Council, which receives 74p of every pound of council tax collected in the county, yesterday voted not to raise its share of the tax.

The county council, which is responsible for schools, social care, fire and rescue and maintenance of the county’s 3,000 miles of roads, will charge average Band D properties £1,118.83 a year.

Councillor Derrick Ashley, who has responsibility for resources, said: “Our prudent financial management has allowed us to freeze council tax at 2009 levels, while continuing to invest in services that are essential to supporting Hertfordshire’s residents and economy.

“This is despite the difficult economic situation, national reductions in public sector spending and increasing pressures on our budget from inflation, as well as the cost of meeting the many needs of Hertfordshire’s growing population.”

The authority also discussed setting asidde £1m to repair flood damage across Hertfordshire.

Councillors proposed to take money from contingency funding to pay for repairs to damage caused by recent weather.

The cabinet will make a final decision in April.