SOUTH BUCKS residents’ council tax looks set to rise.

Budget recommendations for the next financial year were supported at a South Bucks District Council meeting on Wednesday.

If they are approved by full council on March 1, South Bucks Band D council tax payers will see a 3.4 per cent increase in their precept , up to £153 a year . This is a £5 monthly rise on last year, when there was a 3.5 per cent increase.

Added to those figures will be Buckinghamshire’s County County (BCC) £1,208.08 precept which was backed by their cabinet on Monday – a 4.99 per cent increase for Band D taxpayers, including a three per cent Social Care Precept. Last year the county council’s precept rose 3.99 per cent.

BCC’s budget will now go to a full council meeting on Thursday, February 16.

The parish councils, Thames Valley Police, and Bucks and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service have yet to announce their precepts which will also affect South Bucks payers’ overall bills.

This will also be the county council’s final budget to include the government’s Revenue Support Grant for the delivery of everyday services. The cuts will see Buckinghamshire become the first county council – alongside Dorset – to not receive the grant in the financial year of 2018/2019.

It was £81.9million just five years ago, but will be just £8million this year.

In response to this scaling back, BCC leader Martin Tett said the council had planned ahead and made “massive savings”, totalling more than £100million in the last five years.

He said: “As a result we are in a much more stable financial position. This really is a common-sense budget following challenging times, which will put Buckinghamshire on a sure footing going into the future.”

The council’s cabinet voted to implement the government’s proposed three per cent Social Care Precept in reaction to the rising cost of social care for an ageing population.

Cllr Tett said: “The government need to get a grip on this.

“The rising demand and cost pressures on social care won’t go away – we are in danger of having delayed the problem, not solved it. The consequences for the NHS are immense.”