HUGE increases in council tax bills were expected to be approved today for householders in East Sussex.

County financiers say a hike of 8.5 per cent is needed as they battle to pay for vital services including schools and social services.

The controversial decision is expected to be made at a meeting of East Sussex County Council's cabinet committee this morning.

It will mean householders in band D are set to pay an extra £53 a year, more than £1 a week.

That figure is set to rise further as parish, borough and district councils along with the police authority add their demands.

Coun Mike Skinner, lead cabinet member for corporate resources, says the rise is desperately needed to pay for the increasing cost of care for the elderly and education.

An estimated extra £1 million is needed for social services, which lost £4 million in Government grants last year.

And from April the cost of running the county's schools will increase by an estimated £5.8 million.

Coun Skinner said: "People are living longer, which is very good, but unfortunately that comes with a cost. We lost out on funding last year and you don't just come back from that overnight. We believe this rise is vital to pay for services."

East Sussex will receive

Government grants totalling £235.5 million this year, an increase of 5.5 per cent on last year's allocation. Only four other shire counties, and only Hertfordshire in the South East, have had a higher increase.

Last month, West Sussex County Council approved a six per cent rise in council tax.

Bills in Brighton and Hove are set to rise by 12.5 per cent.

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