SWINDON’S council tax payers say it’s not fair they have to pay ever larger sums of money, following last week’s five per cent rise.

At a meeting last week, the council approved the budget for the coming financial year.

From April, residents will be paying an extra £62.44 for the average Band D property.

Councillors cited increased pressures from adult and children’s social care and a reduction in funds from central government as the main financial challenges.

But, although few could argue with the need to prioritise helping the vulnerable, the demand that people pay more, especially following last year’s substantial council tax rises, is seen as unfair by some.

We asked shoppers on Saturday what they thought.

42-year-old Nythe resident Emma Baggs said: “It may not seem like a lot but it is a huge amount of money if, like me, you are right at the bottom end of the pay scale.”

Emma works part-time as a cleaner and already struggles to make ends meet. She said that, last Christmas, she and her three children would have had a miserable time had it not been for the help of friends.

She said: “I just don’t know where they think our money comes from – do they think we all have money trees in our gardens? I struggle as it is but I know people who are even worse off than me. It’s just not fair.”

The 4.99 per cent increase comprises 2.99 for basic costs and a further two per cent for adult social care. At last week’s meeting, Coun Russell Holland, the Conservative deputy leader of the council, accepted that the majority of people who are not in receipt of social care services will be paying more and receiving less.

Michael Anthony, 38, of North Swindon, said he understood the position the council was in, but insisted it was of little consolation to people who are having to foot the bill.

He said: “I don’t think many people know what their cash is spent on. I think if they knew how much was spent on social care it wouldn’t be so bad. But all they know is that they keep being asked to pay ever larger amounts of council tax, and it’s really difficult.”

Lucy McLeod, 29, from Westlea, agreed. She said she was happy to pay the extra money as long as she could be sure it was being spent on those who need it.

“I don’t think it’s an awful lot more to pay, especially when you work it out by each month. And it’s good if it’s helping those who need social care, but I do think people are entitled to ask ‘how much more are we expected to pay’?”

Research from the TaxPayers’ Alliance released earlier this month shows that council tax in England has increased by 57 per cent in real terms over the past 20 years, and that there have been 15 increases for every cut.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “While local politicians complain that their budgets are under strain, they should remember that family budgets are as well.

“Council Tax is a major burden on taxpayers and a huge contributor to the cost of living. Local authorities should think twice before another round of painful tax hikes and instead step up a war on wasteful spending.”

Still, Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, stressed the importance of achieving a balanced budget so his administration, he said, can “continue delivering for Swindon”.