HOMEOWNERS in Worthing face a 6.7 per cent increase in their council tax this year.

It will increase the bill for average Band D properties from £112 to £117.

Today councillors blamed the rise on the Government, which slashed grants to the borough last year.

Worthing's share of the increase keeps to the Government's national guideline of four and a half per cent.

But rises in precepts levied by West Sussex County Council and Sussex Police have forced the overall level of tax up.

Borough treasurer Colin Smith is recommending the Policy and Resources Committee to approve a budget of £11 million for this year.

The Government usually meets about 60 per cent of local spending but it has put a cash freeze on Worthing's share.

Committee chairman Coun Bob Clare said today: "Again, Worthing residents have been harshly treated by the Government.

"Grants which should have been available to help meet the cost of local services has been cut from prudent and well-run councils in favour of many of the bigger-spending authorities outside the South East."

Former mayor and Conservative councillor Geraldine Lissenburg said: "It is a shame for the taxpayers in this town but the blame lies with the Government which has slashed the grant."

These are the proposed Worthing council tax rates: Band A property, £78.24;Band B, £91.28; Band C, £104.32; Band D, £117.36; Band E, £143.44; Band F, £169; Band G, £195.60; Band H, £234.

Worthing was delivered a second blow today with the news in a letter from the Government Office for the South East that its bid for £875,900 from the Government's Single Regeneration Budget is unlikely to succeed.

It was submitted by a partnership of local organisations led by the council.

The money, which would have to be matched by private sector finance of more than £1 million raised by the partnership, would be used to sort out social problems in Worthing town centre.

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