COUNTY Durham council taxpayers are facing an increase of over nine per cent to pay for services such as education and social services.

The rise, which the Labour-run county council's cabinet is recommending to the full council on Thursday, February 20, was on course to be nine per cent exactly.

But it will now have to be 9.17 per cent because the Government trimmed £200,000 from the authority's final grant settlement in the face of pleas that it actually needs more money.

Liberal Democrats on the council said they would be looking for possible savings to bring the council tax increase down to eight per cent, as suggested by the council's citizens panel.

Independent councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, said the county was losing out despite the Labour Government's new funding system.

"Something must be done. If we cannot get an improvement through our MPs then a different tack needs to be considered."

Council leader Ken Manton said the 6.9 per cent increase in Government funding was insufficient even for a standstill budget. "We've made savings of around £8m in existing spending levels and switched the money around to meet areas of greatest priority."

The county's portion of the council tax bill is the biggest. The sums to be levied by district and parish councils and the county's police authority will be known in the coming weeks.

Proposed new charges: Band A £602.28 (+£50.58); B £702.66 (+£59.01); C £803.04 (+£67.44); D £903.42 (+£75.87); E £1,104.18 (+£92.73); F 1,304.94 (+£109.59); G £1,505.70 (+£126.45); and H £1,806.84 (+£151.74).