Pensioners are angry at an 18% rise in council taxes in Devon

The meeting was organised by Devon County Council to discuss how the tax could be made fairer, or replaced.

Some of this year's biggest increases were in south-west England, and some pensioners have refused to pay.

Government minister Nick Raynsford, who addressed the meeting, said a "knee-jerk" replacement was not on the cards.

'Too much'

Devon County Council itself raised council tax by 18% this year.

Local campaigner Albert Venison said some people in his area had been trying to pay an inflation-only increase instead, in line with the increase in pensions.

We just cannot afford to pay any more, it is not a question of not wanting to pay, we just can't Pension campaigner Albert Venison

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "This year what has happened is so many more people have said we have reached the end of the line, we will just pay what we can afford and if we are taken to court and have to go to prison then so be it.

"The current level is too much for us to sustain. It must be based on ability to pay.

"We just cannot afford to pay any more, it is not a question of not wanting to pay, we just can't."

Mr Raynsford, speaking on Saturday morning's Today programme, said local authorities themselves had to be "more prudent" in how they set council tax levels.

He said there were "huge variations" in the West Country in council tax increases, even where some had been given high grants from the government.

We are certainly not going to do a knee-jerk reaction like the previous government did... the poll tax was a disaster Local government minister Nick Raynsford

"I shall be making it clear today that local authorities have to be very careful in the future and pay more attention to the concerns of residents, particularly those on fixed income like pensioners," he said.

The government was looking at alternatives and was conducting a review of funding, which included considering the effectiveness of the council tax.

But he said: "These are complex issues. We are certainly not going to do a knee-jerk reaction like the previous government did... the poll tax was a disaster."

The aim of the conference at County Hall, Exeter, is to arrive at a broad agreement representing the views and interests of people, communities and organisations across Devon.

Some pensioners have refused to pay council tax rises of 18%

MPs, teachers and local businesses will be among those discussing what the alternatives to council tax might be, and if council tax stays, what changes are required.

The council will submit the results to the government.

The government review into the way councils are funded is being headed by Mr Raynsford and is studying the present balance of national tax, local tax and charges, and considering other sources of taxation.