Council seeks to raise council tax by 8%

People living in one part of the Liverpool City Region could see their council tax bills rise by 7.99% from April.

Halton Council in Cheshire has written to the government to ask permission for the increase.

The authority is meeting later this month to set its budget, which is facing a shortfall, and it has already applied to the government for a £30m loan to balance the books.

Normally, councils are required to hold a referendum if they want to increase council tax above the cap of just under 5%.

Documents published ahead of the authority's budget meeting next week reveal a response to this request is anticipated before the end of the month.

People in a Band D property would pay about £148 more per year under the plans.

The council has asked the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for leeway to increase council tax to 5.99% for basic council tax and 2% for adult social care.

The authority has raised council tax by almost 5% in previous years, which is the maximum allowed without automatically triggering a local referendum.

The rise would only be permitted by the government in "exceptional circumstances", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council said the move would raise council tax to the national average and generate an additional £2m.

Halton residents also have to pay fire and police precepts, along with one for the Liverpool City Region.

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