COUNCIL taxpayers across Somerset look set to pay an extra £42.66 next year to fund services such as highways, education and social services.

A row over the proposed budget broke out at Conservative-led County Hall after leading councillors in the Cabinet unveiled plans to raise the average Band D bill to £1,111.95 in the 12 months from April.

The increase represents a rise of 3.99 per cent, 2 per cent of which would be ringfenced for adult social care, while the current £12.84 precept to help fund Somerset Rivers Authority will be maintained.

The Tories have trumpeted their "balanced budget" against a backdrop of enormous cutbacks in government grants, while the LibDem opposition has slammed the lack of detail and "financial incompetence".

Cabinet recommended that the budget proposals be approved when Full Council meets on Wednesday, 15 February.

Taunton Deane Borough Council has already announced plans to put up its share of the council tax demand by 3.5 per cent, raising the average Band D property annual levy in the district by £5 to £149.62 for the year from April.

The police and fire authorities have yet to announce their share of the overall bill.

The Conservative outlined plans to make £18 million of savings next year "while protecting the frontline and meeting the rising demand for services", claiming it had made £120 million of savings in the past six years.

They say savings targets for 2017/18 focus on "increased efficiency, better use of technology, getting more from contracts and reducing the use of agency staff".

Cllr Harvey Siggs, cabinet member for resources, said: "This is a balanced approach to deliver a balanced budget at a time of extreme financial pressure for all local councils.

“We have to find savings and are committed to doing so in a way that allows us to carry on delivering services we can be proud of.

"An emphasis will be on continuing to raise our performance in areas like procurement to make sure we are getting the services we want a price we can afford.”

Savings for 2017/18 include: •£1.5 million from the return of South West One services to the authority.

•£400,000 cut from paying agency staff.

•£1.6 million from better contracting.

•£10 million from redesigning services and bringing spending in some key areas into line with good performing authorities.

LibDem leader Cllr Jane Lock said: "This is a typical Tory budget - no clarity, full of errors and no-one knows which services will be cut in any detail.

"I deplore the financial incompetence shown by this Tory cabinet. They are hiding the cuts, yet want to pass on to all of us council tax increases...without telling us what services will see what cuts.

"The Somerset Rivers Authority precept is especially unfair, as no other major local authority in the UK is calling upon residents to pay for a national issue.

"These increases are following the increases last year where Somerset council taxpayers had the highest percentage increase of any authority."

She said: ●Everyone acknowledges the council has crises in adult social care and children’s social services, while the finances are "in meltdown".

●The Tories should have considered a referendum over pushing council tax even higher to plug the funding gap.

●The Conservatives are responsible for the problems, including a massive overspend on the 'inadequate' children's services.

●Failure to increase council tax for six years had meant finances were not on an even keel.

●She criticised Tory plans to transfer almost £12 million from contingency and capital funds to cover a hole in the finances.

Full council will vote on the proposals next Wednesday (February 15).

Taunton Deane Borough Council has already announced plans to put up its share of the council tax demand by 3.5 per cent, raising the average Band D property annual levy in the district by £5 to £149.62 for the year from April.

The police and fire authorities have yet to announce their share of the overall bill.