Council tax in Dartford is set to shoot up by nearly £100 a year for the average home as both county and borough councils hike bills.

Kent County Council agreed yesterday a rise of just under five per cent - working out at an extra £52.30 a year for households in an average band C home.

The KCC increase will try to combat a daunting £113m budget black hole at the county council.

KCC said the hike would fill a budget gap caused partly by a £45m in government grants being slashed.

Dartford Council is also set to raise its level of council tax for a consecutive year, after seven years of keeping it at a zero per cent increase.

At a budget meeting next week councillors are set to give the green light to a three per cent hike, working out at an additional £4.95 a year for band D households.

Council leader, Jeremy Kite, told News Shopper: "We have been very transparent with people and told them there would be an extra fiver a year on the council tax. I think people understand and don't mind spending extra money if they can see it is not being wasted.

"We had a reputation at Dartford for keeping a zero per cent increase, but now we are saying we need the extra fiver to make sure we keep the services people want from us going. I get the feeling people don't mind spending a little extra if services are provided."

Dartford council tax for Band D houses is be to be increased to £172 a year, which will contribute to a total of £1,655.14 a year.

Last year the bill was £1,577.17.

Council tax is made up of county council, Kent Fire and Rescue, Police, and borough councils.

County council tax is spent on:

Schools

Roads

Social care and health,

Libraries

Flooding

Buses

Dartford Borough's income is spent on:

Bins

Housing

Planning applications

Recycling

Kent County Council recently revealed it needs an astonishing £630 million to fix the road system in the county.