COUNCIL taxes in Waverley are expected to shoot through the roof with residents facing a massive increase of more than 17 per cent.

The grim news came this week as Surrey County Council and Waverley Borough Council set out their proposed inflation-busting charge increases.

The massive hike follows last year's 11 per cent increases.

At two separate meetings, both councils blamed the soaring charges on a lack of financial support from the government.

And the proposed increases of 17 per cent from Surrey and 9.6 per cent from Waverley, look set be met with further increases in charges from Surrey Police and town and parish councils.

Together, the demands will leave council tax payers in all bands digging deep into their pockets to find the above-inflation increases.

And that would mean average band D tax payers finding an additional £163 plus, per year overall. Leader of Waverley, David Harmer announced that council taxes "needed" to be put up to meet government demands for increased investment in recycling and homelessness.

Mr Harmer explained that by opting for an increase in Waverley's council tax of 9.6 per cent, the council would not be letting its reserves fall to an "imprudent level" and would be able to cover its budget shortfall of £211,000.

"With the proposed increase we will be able to continue to support community organisations through our grants system while keeping council tax increases to an acceptable level," Mr Harmer stated.

A £70 increase for annual season tickets in Upper Hart car park, Farnham, and similar increases at one of Godalming's car parks were also proposed by Waverley councillors to plug the budget shortfall.

The increase in Waverley council tax bills is likely to be approved at the full council's meeting on February 11. And at Surrey County Council, the government grant settlement was also blasted by leader Nick Skellett.

He urged councillors to invest more money from the county budget into education and social care. But he admitted that this proposal would lead to the council tax increase of a whopping 17 per cent- nearly eight times the rate of inflation.

Mr Skellett told Monday's meeting of SCC's executive: "Following feedback from residents and consultations with partners, further improvements in our key public services will be our top priority.

"Unfortunately, because of the changed funding arrangements imposed by the government, this will also mean that our council tax will have to rise substantially."

The final council tax bills for Surrey will also be approved on February 11.

West Sussex council tax payers could be faced with an even bigger increase than Surrey residents as they bear the brunt of a county council budget shortfall of a staggering £30 million.

A meeting of the full West Sussex County Council on February 14 has been recommended to approve an increase of 18.5 per cent for its council tax.

Leader of the council, Harold Hall, said: "We need this extra £30 million just to cover inflation and unavoidable costs, such as increased National Insurance, landfill tax and other government imposed commitments."

In East Hampshire, council taxes are expected to increase by only 2.5 per cent for the fourth year running following recommendations to EHDC cabinet set to be ratified as The Herald went to press.

Liphook and Bramshott Parish Council, which was the most expensive parish council in East Hampshire last year, now stands in fourth place in next year's council tax calculations.

But by the time the bills finally land on the mats, householders can still expect a rise of as much as 14 per cent after charges by Hampshire Council, the Police Authority and town and parish councils portion of the bills have been added.

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