Proposals to hike part of council tax in Kent by 4.99 per cent to plug a multi-million pound funding gap are being put forward by Kent County Council.

Savings of £53 million are needed as government funding reduces by £45 million, and the council currently has a budget gap of £113 million.

The council said this is because of rising demand for services, specifically for children's and adult social care, as well as inflation.

However, since it announced its budget consultation in September 2017 for the coming financial year 2018/19, the government has announced an increase in the amount county council's can raise council tax by one per cent.

If accepted, these new plans could cost the average band C household an extra £52.30 a year.

Initial plans for a four per cent hike have been replaced by plans to increase the county council's portion of council tax by 4.99 per cent.

Leader of Kent County Council Paul Carter said: “My colleagues and I have an instinctive belief in lower, not higher, taxes but we have an equal concern and that is to protect and deliver effective and efficient public services.

“It is a concern that arises not just from our day-to-day roles here at County Hall but from decades of investment in schools, children’s and adults social care, libraries, youth services and transport.

“It is never easy to see council tax rise. However, our autumn consultation with the public has shown that the respondents will accept manageable council tax increases if these are used to protect front line services.

“Whilst the additional one per cent will raise £6 million, it by no means compensates for the loss of grants but will go some way to protect frontline services.”

As well as the council tax increase the council announced plans to raise £53.4 million.

The decision of the Conservative-run cabinet forms part of its wider budget proposal for the year 2018/19 and will now be put to the full council next month for a vote, which it is likely to pass.

Here's what it will cost:

  • The 4.99 per cent increase will mean a £59 hike for Band D homes - the average - taking the sum to £1,237.68
  • For homes in Band C - of which there are the most in the county - the rate will rise to £1,100.16.

County council tax is spent on:

  • Schools
  • Roads
  • Social care and health,
  • Libraries
  • Flooding
  • Buses

Each organisation that provides services in your area sets their own proportion of the council tax bill you receive. These are: