COUNCIL taxpayers in Kent face an increase of nearly three per cent on their bills this year.

Kent County Council, which accounts for the largest chunk of the council tax, is proposing an increase of 2.85 per cent.

The council says the rise represents the lowest increase made by KCC since the council tax was introduced in 1993.

It will mean an average Band D household will have to pay £1,030 for the KCC share of the tax. Overall bills will be higher once district council, police authority and fire authority and parish council precepts are added.

KCC’s ruling Conservative administration says its budget will safeguard frontline services and includes a package of savings totalling nearly 40 million.

County council leader Paul Carter (Con) said: "Our proposals protect frontline services. Increased demand for services and other cost pressures mean we have had to put an additional £66.4million into the budget.”

"The net increase in our government grant was £5.1milllion, leaving the rest to come from savings, income and council tax."

But thousands of county council staff will have to settle for a one per cent pay rise, a proposal that may not be accepted by unions representing employees.

County Hall’s Labour opposition group accused KCC of setting a budget geared towards this year’s council elections.

Under KCC’s spending plans, which will have to be agreed at a meeting next month, more money will be spent on the following:

• £4.6m extra for frontline services to protect vulnerable young people

• £8.7m investment in adult social care

• An extra £15.9m of highways maintenance

• £3.8m to extend the Freedom Pass across the county from June, giving free bus travel to 11 to 16-year-olds.

ends