COUNCIL Tax bills are set to rise 3.99 per cent again next year – for the third year in a row.

The plans will see a £35-a-year hike for a Band A property and a £53-a-year increase for the average Band D home owner.

The proposals for the rise were discussed at a meeting of Cumbria County Council last week, and will now form a consultation document in which residents' views will be sought and a final decision made in February.

And if they decide to increase their share from council tax bills – residents will be stung in the pocket again during 2019-20.

For every £1 paid in council tax, approximately 74p goes to the county council, 13p to the police and crime commissioner, 11p to district councils and 2p to local town and parish councils.

The hike would comprise a 1.99 per cent rise for the county council plus two per cent towards the spiralling costs of adult social care services for a total increase of 3.99 per cent.

The council pointed out it would amount to Band A homeowners paying an extra 68p a week and Band D home owners paying £1.02 more a week for the county council.

Kendal councillor Peter Thornton, Deputy Leader of Cumbria County Council, defended the plans and said the council had worked hard to keep them to a minimum.

“I am pleased despite all the financial pressure that we face that we are able to consult on a council tax increase that is below the rate of inflation, we have worked hard to keep this proposed increase as low as is possible," he said.

"While the cost is not insignificant, every one per cent of council tax generates £2million which helps protect vital services.

“All councils are facing funding cuts and increased demand as a result of austerity. This means we have to continue to look at how we do our day to day business.

"This council has a good record of managing its funds and in finding ways to transform its services. All of this helps to ensure that we can continue to meet our responsibilities to the people of Cumbria despite funding cuts from Government”.

Council chief executive Katherine Fairclough added that the council needs to save £49 million between 2019 and 2022. This includes £22.7 million alone in 2019-20.

It would mean that since 20011 when a new Government took charge, the council has saved £298 million.

The council is making the case to government for more funding and has warned that without it, the authority could be cut back to only providing “essential services”.

The consultation document is now available at cumbria.gov.uk/budgetconsultation and will run until Monday 7 January 2019.