Homeowners face a four-figure council tax bill as councils and police battle to safeguard services and meet tough Government "green" criteria.

Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet members unanimously backed a proposal to increase its council tax claim by 8.9 per cent next year, raising its part of the average Band D tax to £113.76 a year.

Tying in an 18.5 per cent rise from West Sussex County Council and a 36 per cent increase from Sussex Police, householders are likely to pay a total of £1,111.91, though the figure will not be finalised until a full council meeting on March 5.

Last year it was £938.13.

The sum from the county council is £859.32, while residents will pay £97.74 to Sussex Police and an average parish precept of £41.90.

The proposed 8.9 per cent increase by Mid Sussex was the second of three options.

The first, a "standstill" increase of 6.1 per cent - 12p a week - was rejected as too little as it did not cover sums for new initiatives, while a rise of 11.9 per cent was deemed excessive.

The extra council tax will cover an additional £84,000 to meet central Government targets on recycling, £15,000 for new community houses and £60,000 to improve performance in the planning service, bringing the budget to £12,506,000 in total.

Council leader Christine Field said: "This has been one of the most difficult budget setting rounds we've ever had.

"Resources have been scarce and central government kept changing funding figures, so each time we thought we'd come to a conclusion we had to change it again.

"I'm not pleased we've had to raise tax but I'm very pleased we haven't cut any services.

"We've been able to propose enhancements by redirecting resources within the budget."

The Cabinet was due to discuss the budget on February 10 but had to postpone it when figures on grant funding were released by central government two days before.

Out of the blue the council learnt it would receive between £84,000 and £85,000 less than anticipated, which meant figures had to be hastily reviewed.

Coun Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet member for the environment, said: "To go for the 11.9 per cent rise - a further increase of only 6p per week - is what a lot of people would have done but I don't think it's the right thing.

"We may struggle but we need to look at what we're doing and make sure we get the best value for the tax payer.

"We have to do something about recycling but the rise is as far as I would want to go."

Coun Peter Jones, Cabinet member for resources and chairman of the central area planning committee, said he was pleased services had not had to be cut.

He said: "A rise of 8.9 per cent will still be tight."

Councillors pinpointed recycling initiatives as a key focus for the council. Coun David Russell, Cabinet member for community development, said: "Recycling is now a major priority."

Councillors said the council was being penalised for its success in reaching past recycling targets.

The Cabinet will propose a budget of £12,506,000 before the full council on March 5, including a council tax increase of 8.9 per cent.