CIVIC chiefs will today begin discussions on a 2.99 per cent council tax rise, which will affect residents across the county.

As part of Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet committee, the authority’s Conservative-leading frontbench will pick through the proposals, which will generate around £18 million in revenue.

The plans will also need to go to Full Council on February 14 before they can be officially signed off.

If approved, this will see taxpayers living in Band D homes shelling out £1,236.87 during the 2019/20 financial year – up from £1,200.96 in 2018/19.

Councillors say that this will aid its bid to save another £80 million by 2021.

Last year council tax rose 5.99 per cent, after central government allowed councils that funded social care to ask residents for more of a contribution.

However the authority says that since government cuts began ten years ago, it has had to slash around £480 million from its budget, but will need to cut even more to reach £560 million in three years time.

Nevertheless, despite the cuts, Westminster has announced that the authority will get several one-off grants, including £4.8 million for adult’s social care, and £8.1 million for children’s services.

However, as reported, Rob Carr, head of finance for the council, says the funding “falls far short of the amount required”.

Leader of the council, Councillor Roy Perry added: “This is in line with the county council’s careful forward financial planning which is key to protecting services for Hampshire residents, particularly those for the most vulnerable in our communities, and especially children in our care and the ever increasing number of elderly.

“The proposed 2.99 per cent increase is much lower than last year’s increase and will probably mean Hampshire will once again levy the second lowest council tax of any county council in the country.

“Increased demands on services mean that our planned savings programme needs to deliver £140 million by April this year.

“The county council, by careful forward planning and shrewd use of reserves, seeks to minimise reductions to frontline services during these challenging financial times whilst maintaining council tax at one of the lowest levels in the country.”

The meeting was due to start at 10.30am, and was to be held at the county council’s headquarters in Winchester.