COUNCIL taxes are set to soar for the second year running after Liberal Democrats proposed a massive 14 per cent rise on Tuesday night.

Five times the current rate of inflation, and well above government guidelines of keeping rises to under 10 per cent, it will mean an average band D household paying an extra £17.50 per annum.

This comes as campaign groups highlight the struggle by the elderly and those on lower incomes to pay current rates.

The planned tax hike, which is even larger than last year's rise of nearly 10 per cent, is being attributed to inadequate government funding, which Lib Dems claim amounts to a loss of £144,000, and an increase in council responsibilities.

This includes inheriting licensing regulations from the magistrates' courts and keeping to the government's recycling targets.

Lib Dem leader Chris Slyfield played down the rises as being a small part, 11 per cent, of the overall council tax bill, which is made up largely of policing budgets and Surrey County Council elements. These have yet to be set and expected to be made known next month.

Outlining the situation, Waverley finance officer Paul Wenham revealed that the council had received a mere 0.3 per cent increase of £20,000 in its government top- up grant. This was opposed to an expected three per cent which is being given to authorities nationally.

In response, the council has announced the intention to cut a total of £500,000 across its budgets to help plug a significant annual shortfall in funding of around £960,000.

Lib Dem executive member Stewart Edge believed the increases had been forced upon them by government requirements. In his opinion, the Conservatives would have been faced with a similar scenario had they been in control of the council.

He said: "I regret that it looks as though we will not be able to avoid passing on additional costs to the taxpayer resulting directly from the government's actions. I know that council tax payers expect us to ensure that we get value for money and I am pleased we have been able to identify £100,000 of real cuts in Waverley's administrative and overhead manpower costs to avoid having to pass on other inflation increases in council tax costs to the public."

Alarmed at the proposed increase, Conservative Peter Burden believed Lib Dems had "broken all their promises" over tax.

He said: "The situation does not warrant them making a 14 per cent increase. This week is the first time we have seen the budget, which they were supposed to put out before Christmas."

The issue will be discussed by Waverley's overview and scrutiny committee on January 13, before a final decision in February.

• On Saturday, January 17, thousands of people from across the UK are expected to march in London to call for an end to council taxes and a fairer system based on an individual's ability to pay.

Led by local "Isitfair" champions Christine and John Melsom from Headley, the march will start from the Duke of York Steps near Trafalgar Square, where Mrs Melsom will address a rally before marching to Downing Street where a petition is expected to be handed in.