COUNCIL Tax payers could find themselves forking out £1 a week extra - and getting less in return.

Paying more for reduced services is the price Council leaders fear will have to be paid for the Chancellor's budget income tax cuts.

They shook their heads in disbelief when the Council was allowed just a 1.4% rise in spending - half the rate of inflation - and shuddered at seeing its income from the national business rate pool slashed by nearly £5m.

Although they say it is too early to ascertain the impact, Borough Treasurer Philip Grayling's early prediction is it will mean a £10m cut-back in the Council budget and a struggle to keep the Council Tax increase to single figures.

Council Leader Cllr Peter Smith is particularly upset by the way the authority's frugal years of scrimping and scraping has been rewarded.

Cllr Smith said:"I would like to ask John Gummer how he can justify a pathetic 1.4% increase in what we can spend when his friends in Westminster are getting more than 10 times that amount.

"The government's claim to be giving extra money for education are disingenuous to say the least, since all councils are already spending more than the government say they should. So it is a paper increase rather than real money."

And angered finance chief Cllr Brian Strett stated:"Now we can see the real price of tax cuts. What the government has given with one hand he is taking away with the other by forcing up Council Tax and making people pay more for less.

"We shall do our utmost to protect vital services as far as possible, but I am so angry our people may have to suffer again when we have been praised by our auditors for being an efficient, low spending authority."

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