Hike in council tax on the cards as authority cuts back

At yesterday’s cabinet meeting, savings of £98m by April 2017, rising to a further £140m of savings by 2019/20, were agreed.

This includes a hike in tax of 3.99 per cent – 1.99 per cent being the maximum an authority can raise its tax without a referendum and two per cent for social services.

At the meeting, Ukip’s Chris Wood called for Tory leader Roy Perry’s resignation, questioning how Cllr Perry can stand by and make such deep cuts.

Cllr Perry said ‘I will not be resigning.’

He said he had written to the prime minister to express his concern about the deepening government cuts.

These plans will now go to the full county meeting on February 18 for approval.