MASSIVE increases in council taxes, car parking charges and council rents are on the cards for Waverley residents.

Proposed increases of 6.2 per cent on council taxes, up to 13.9 per cent on council rents, and almost 20 per cent on some Haslemere car park season tickets were provisionally agreed at a meeting of the executive committee last Tuesday.

Council tax payers in the average band D category who paid £107.65 will now have to fork out £114.30, an extra £6.65 for the Waverley element of their council tax bills.

Still to be added will be figures from parishes and towns, Surrey County Council and the police.

Increases are expected to be rubber-stamped by the full council next Wednesday and will, if agreed, come into effect at the start of the new financial year in April.

Other charges set to rise are fees and charges for Waverley's sports and recreation grounds, with a price hike on some charges of between 10 and 20 per cent.

The proposed changes come at a time when Waverley's budget was in danger of falling into a crisis following new government spending initiatives and targets.

Last-minute alterations to the budget were called for by councillors just two weeks ago, after they insisted that an increase of 12 per cent in rents for council properties was "unacceptable".

But despite an average increase in council rents of 9.9 per cent, some council tenants will have to find an extra 13.9 per cent for their rents.

Council tenants renting a separate garage will also be hit, paying an extra 9.6 per cent in their rents. Non-council tenants will have to stump up the same increase.

The rent increases are in line with government insistence that councils across the country must raise their rents in line with those of housing associations.

Leader of the council David Harmer said at the meeting: "The requirement to increase rents in the year 2002 to 2003, is not an option, it is an instruction from central government."

The meeting heard from director of housing David January that factors such as the size and facilities of the council property would be taken into account in deciding the percentage rent increase.

Mr January explained that rents would increase or decrease within a range of four per cent more or less than the average of 9.9 per cent.

"Tenants in smaller properties could see their rents rise by 5.9 per cent, while those in bigger houses could have to pay 13.9 per cent more rent," he said.

The overall increases were blamed by portfolio holder for housing and community services Dr Genny Lane on a "poor" government grant settlement this year.

She added: "With the increased cost of housing repairs the council has had little choice but to increase rents by this amount, especially if we are to continue to offer good- quality housing to the residents of Waverley."

Cold comfort for tenants is the proposal that they will receive one rent-free week during the Christmas period.

Council tax increases across the borough, which will be raised even higher with the addition of Surrey County Council tax increases, were also blamed by councillors on this year's central government settlement figure.

With an increase in the settlement of 2.3 per cent, the council must achieve new targets in recycling rates and housing of the homeless.

A spokesman for Waverley told The Herald: "The government has given Waverley the 2.3 per cent for inflation which it promised to every council; however, no further funding has been given to cover the cost of expanding the extra requirements imposed by government."

The final decision on the budget will be made next week when the full council meets on Wednesday, February 13.