Brighton and Hove council tax bills are set to soar by almost 11 per cent in April - well over five times the rate of inflation.

Staff working for Brighton and Hove City Council were told in a letter from chief executive David Panter the charge would increase by an estimated 10.9 per cent.

The figure is more than double the maximum five per cent rise set as council strategy.

The increase would mean the bill for a typical Band C property rising by £74 a year.

In his letter Mr Panter revealed the figure could have been 15 per cent but for big savings made by the council.

About nine members of staff could be made redundant. The council has done its best to get good grants from the Government and to minimise the effect of savings on front-line services.

Mr Panter said an immense amount of time had been spent on preparing the 2002-2003 budget, adding: "This difficult process has been done with great skill and dedication and without acrimony."

The Labour-led council has had to fill a £4.3 million gap caused mainly by extra spending on social care, homelessness and waste collection.

Proposed savings include merging the housing and environment advice centres and reducing ward budgets for councillors and management changes in social care.

More could be saved from other changes to services and departments.

Savings have been made by not filling scores of vacancies. Mr Panter said these would be relaxed but not removed in April.

The council was also putting £1 million aside for improving services and conditions for all staff. Mr Panter said 9.5 people - the figure includes part-time workers - were potentially redundant and were being told yesterday.

He told staff: "I appreciate the uncertainties created by our budget challenges and the first part of the reshaping has not been easy for many of you but I do believe our organisation has turned the corner."

Labour deputy leader and finance Cabinet councillor Jackie Lythell said: "It has been particularly difficult this year.

"It has been very unusual with extra spending on homelessness and refuse and the fact we must put more money into social care and children's services.

"We did all we could to stick to our five per cent target but we have been blown off course."

Coun Lythell said it should be possible for some if not all of the redundant staff to take up some of the frozen positions and remain with the council.

She added the council would continue to make savings next year, including property use and eliminating duplication.

She said: "It has been an extremely difficult process but we have received great co-operation."

If a 10.9 per cent increase was imposed, typical Band C council tax would rise from £684 to £758, an increase of £1.42 a week.

More than a quarter of Brighton and Hove properties are in Band D while 43 per cent are in Bands A and B, which will pay smaller increases.

The figures do not include the levy for Sussex Police, which will be added later.

More than a third of taxpayers in B and C also qualify for a single person discount of 25 per cent.

Liberal Democrat leader Paul Elgood said: "10.9 per cent is a big increase and it comes with a series of cuts and savings.

"We will be looking at these very closely.

"Residents will be paying more tax and getting less for it.

"The vacancy management scheme has enabled the council to make savings but this has been at the cost of something like 400 jobs and the subsequent knock-on effect to performance."

Green Party convenor Keith Taylor said: "The predicted charge is too high and marks the spectacular breaking of a Labour promise to hold council tax to an average five per cent increase per annum for three years.

"No one forced them into this promise.

"We all were told the strategy would work and to believe them.

"Now we can see just how flawed their promises were. Yet there is still no apology from Ken Bodfish, the council leader.

"We have a New Labour government and this is a New Labour council."