HALTON residents face a council tax rise of 4.9 per cent in the coming year which includes a social care precept of 3 per cent.

However the increased levy still leaves a gaping hole in the cost of looking after the borough’s most vulnerable, the full council heard at a meeting on Wednesday.

Halton Cllr Mike Wharton, board member for finance, told members: “Given that over a third of local government expenditure relates to adult social care it’s not surprising that we now have a national funding crisis to deal with.

“Our adult social care funding shortfall is estimated to be around £4 million.

“The precept will generate an extra £400,000 of council tax income.

“We do recognise the additional burden this will place upon our residents when in reality this funding should all be provided nationally by the government.”

Halton faces budget cuts of £33 million over the next three years.

“This represents a reduction of around one third in the council’s net budget and comes after having found savings of £15 million for the current year,” said Cllr Wharton.

“From 2010 to 2018 we have seen a reduction in government funding for Halton totalling £57 million which is the equivalent to a reduction of £451 per person in the borough.”

Halton’s council tax is the fourth lowest in the north west.

Almost 70 per cent of residents live in bands A and B.

The increase for band A is £40.87 or 79p per week and band B goes up by £47.67 or 92p per week. Band D rises by £61.30 or £1.18 a week.

“The budget working group has had to consider some difficult proposals,” added Cllr Wharton.

“Looking forward the dilemma will be what level of services can we continue to provide and can we continue to provide them all?”