Council tax bills in East Sussex are set to rocket by more than three times the rate of inflation.

East Sussex County Council's ruling Cabinet is backing a 10.5 per cent increase, adding £71 to this year's average Band D bills.

That would mean all Band-D taxpayers facing a bill of £746, plus charges made by district councils and emergency services.

The Cabinet heard the council faced acute problems paying for social services and repairs following the autumn floods.

East Sussex social services are overspent by £1.2 million this year and the council proposes savings of £700,000 in its next budget.

The estimated £6.5 million bill for clearing up after the floods will virtually all be met by council tax payers.

Some of the money could come via borrowing or transport cuts.

Tory opposition group leader Peter Jones accused the Cabinet of putting forward a dishonest set of proposals, saying they left no leeway for events such as the imminent teachers' pay award.

He said: "To set a budget which does not take that into account is a dishonest budget."

Lib Dem David Tutt said: "I think we have given a very honest account of what the issues are and what the pressures are."

The full council will meet on February 20 to finalise next year's bills.