RESIDENTS are facing an additional council tax burden as an increase of almost four per cent was approved by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Members overwhelming approved the 3.99 per cent increase – including a two per cent adult social care levy – at a meeting last night.

However, Councillor Christopher Massey, the cabinet member for corporate resources, said the increase would not be passed onto residents in receipt of council tax support to help protect some of the most financially restricted people in the borough.

Recommending the increase, he said: “It is a difficult decision to take but our hands are tied by central government.”

Council leader Sue Jeffrey said: “This is nothing less than another funding crisis. These cuts disproportionately fall on authorities in the north, we have to pick up the bill for the authorities in the south to keep their services.”

UKIP councillor Steve Turner, who represents the Lockwood ward, had called on members to drop the increase as local residents were already struggling enough.

On Wednesday night Stockton Borough Council agreed to impose a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax for residents with three per cent of the rise allocated for the adult social care levy.

Conservative Cllr Ben Houchen called for the authority to freeze the 1.99 per cent of the increase but his motion was defeated by 38 votes to ten.

The substantive recommendation to increase council tax was passed with 38 votes to ten.