EAST Cheshire residents will pay almost five per cent more in council tax as borough chiefs look for an additional £20 million for adult social care.

At a meeting on Thursday, February 23, members of Cheshire East Council voted in favour of increasing council tax by 4.99 per cent for 2017-18 – which equates to an additional £1.21 per week for Band D properties.

Three per cent of the increase will go directly towards caring for elderly and vulnerable residents in the borough, with CEC looking to fund a £97 million adult care budget.

The average council tax bill in east Cheshire will be £1,324 per year, and CEC claims taxpayers will pay around £3 a day for its frontline services, with its revenue budget set at almost £264 million.

Cllr Peter Groves, CEC cabinet member for finance, insists the council has ‘little choice’ but to increase tax year-on-year due to the ‘enormous financial challenges’ it faces.

He said: “By 2019-20 there will be no general government grant support to the revenue budget of CEC. The speed of this change is a major challenge.

“When increases in demand, related to protecting vulnerable people and coupled with inflation, are taken into account then this requires a council tax increase in line with Government expectations.

“Caring for our vulnerable residents is paramount though, and CEC wishes to reassure those individuals and their families that their needs will receive priority and our full commitment.

“We spend 54 pence of every pound supporting our vulnerable residents, whether they are young people seeking a start in life or those with particular health needs.

“We will continue to do all in our power to protect frontline services, including caring for the vulnerable – young and old.”

Taxpayers in the borough have already been hit by a 1.99 per cent increase in Cheshire Police’s council tax precept worth an additional six pence a week for Band D properties.

Cheshire Fire Authority has also voted for its own 1.99 per cent increase in tax, which will rise by £1.46 a year.

CEC's turnover is in excess of £700 million, and its net budget for 2017/18 stands at £263.8 million.

The council claims it will 'continue to apply prudent financial management' while both protecting its services and embarking on a capital investment programme of more than £500 million over the next three years.