CASH-STRAPPED Sandwell Council is planning to increase council tax by almost five per cent.

The 4.99 per cent rise is the maximum amount the council can increase council tax without triggering a referendum of Sandwell voters.

Sandwell Council leader Steve Eling, its former financial chief, has long bemoaned the scale of Government cuts to the authority.

He believes the Government has "put a gun to the council's head" as ministers allowed a three per cent rise to pay for social care.

The money raised from other 1.99 per cent will help fund council services.

Similar plans Dudley led to a row amongst councillors two weeks ago but as Labour has a stranglehold on the council controlling 71 of 72 seats the Sandwell plan will get nodded through at full council on March 7 before being implemented in April.

Sandwell households on average currently pay £1,390 a year in council tax, with £1,220 going to the authority, and the proposed raise will mean an extra £4 a month.

Councillor Eling said: "I am not happy about imposing such a large increase but that there was no other option.

He said the authority had been forced to increase the social care element by three per cent to avoid allegations of not putting enough money into care for the elderly.

Councillor Eling said: “Even without the cuts, I can justify the 1.99 per cent rise for services because of inflation. It’s not just trying to suck money out of people.

“But I feel quite annoyed about the three per cent for social care because that money should be funded from general taxation."

He added: “It’s a step too far and is piling it onto taxpayers. All councils can be criticised for the 4.99 per cent rise but we are all in that position for the same reason.”

Sandwell's one UKIP councillor Philip Garrett (Princes End) said councillors are in between "a rock and a hard place."

He said: "This is the spot councillors find themselves in.

"If they vote against the rise they are virtually agreeing to adult social care going under funded in Sandwell and if they vote for the rise folk will be happy but millions could be lost in funding for other council services."