Surrey County Council DROPS ‘disgraceful’ plans to hike council tax by 15 PER CENT

The cash-strapped council had proposed the huge increase to fund the area's struggling adult social care services, in a move described as “lazy” and “short term” by critics.

But Conservative leader David Hodge backtracked on the plan at a full council meeting today, instead recommending an increase of 4.99 per cent.

The general increase will be 1.99 per cent, with an additional three per cent ring-fenced for social care.

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Surrey County Council backtracked on its plans to increase its tax by 15 per cent

The proposed increase, announced last month, would have been the highest in the country and would have triggered a county-wide referendum if passed.

But Sheila Little, director of finance at Surrey County Council, says there would be "significant risks" in approving the recommended lower increase.

Previously, residents had been warned that if passed, the increase would come into effect in March – two months before a legally required referendum.

Fuming Surrey residents had blasted the hike, labelling the rise 'unaffordable' and 'unfair'.

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Councils strapped for cash are looking to finance failing areas with tax hikes

It must not go unnoticed that a council that very rarely misses a chance to raises taxes is still seeking to increase rates by almost five per cent

John O'Connell, TaxPayers' Alliance

Colin McGrath said: "Disgraceful.

"Show me where the increases are warranted and I'll show them five ways they can make efficiency to avoid passing on their inefficiencies to us."

Lisa Hutson-Fox said: "No doubt the chief executive with his £216k salary won't even notice this, but normal people will.

"It is already hard enough to live your life, contribute to a pension, have any savings at all and many don't have these luxuries.

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Outraged Surrey residents blasted the plans

"It's completely wrong to make working people pay this ridiculous hike.

"We all know the ageing population is a time-bomb waiting to happen – what happens when we ourselves are older and need help?

"Who is going to pay for that if we haven't been able to save for ourselves?

"We are told often enough there won't be anything for us, and stealing this money from us makes saving for our own old-age even harder.

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"A complete denial and refusal to seriously address the issues over many decades has led to this."

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said a five per cent jump to council tax was still outrageous.

He said: "It is good news that Surrey County Council has backed down on proposing a shameful 15 per cent hike in council tax.

"But it must not go unnoticed that a council that very rarely misses a chance to raises taxes is still seeking to increase rates by almost five per cent, so local residents have every right to feel that despite the announcement, their local representatives are letting them down.

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The council is still planing a 5 per cent hike

"Providing adequate funding for social care is an important issue that deserves much deeper thought and a long-term solution, not a short-term and lazy tax hike on hard-pressed residents."

Simon Edwards, director of the County Councils Network, said: “Following years of funding cuts and rising demand for services, county authorities face extremely difficult choices in balancing their books.

“The situation for all county authorities, such as Surrey, is made worse by the historic underfunding of rural areas and higher demand for care services, forcing residents to pay higher council tax for fewer services compared to urban areas.

“To help county authorities, Government must now deliver new funding for social care in the March Budget. Alongside this, it must bring forward its review council funding to provide genuinely fair resources for Shire Counties.”

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