A Swindon councillor has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to call on him to think again on plans that could result in council tax rises of nine per cent and mean householders paying another £170 a year. 

Leader of the labour group Jim Grant wrote: “Working people in Swindon are already feeling the squeeze as a result of your increase in National Insurance, your £20 a week cut to Universal Credit, and higher energy bills – if you insist on forcing council tax up too that could push many families over the edge.”

This month the Local Government Finance Settlement is due to be announced, telling councils how much central funding they will receive to pay for services like adult and children’s social care.

Coun Grant added: “Your Government announced a rise in National Insurance to pay for social care plans – plans your government claimed would ensure no-one would have to sell their home to cover the cost of care.

Now it has emerged that not only will many households still have to sell their homes but that you are taxing working people twice for the social care plan, by increasing council tax to make up for funding shortfalls. 

“Hidden in the small print of your budget were plans for a further increase in council tax via the adult social care precept, which you are asking councils to use to fill the funding gaps in your plan.”