DUDLEY Council is proposing a council tax rise of just under three per cent - with the opportunity for people to vote to pay more to help fund care services for the elderly and vulnerable.

The new Conservative administration is planning to increase the basic rate of council tax by 1.99 per cent next year and add a further precept of one per cent towards adult social care.

Council chiefs say the proposed rise is no more than an extra 70p a week for most households or the price of a loaf of bread - and they say residents in the Dudley borough would continue to pay one of the lowest council tax rates in the country.

The cash-strapped previous Labour administration had proposed a rise of almost four per cent (3.99) for the next financial year as part of last year’s budget setting process but new Conservative leader Councillor Patrick Harley said a rise of 2.99 per cent in 2018/19 would allow the authority to set a legal, balanced budget.

Members of the public could, however, opt for a greater rise of 3.99 per cent or 4.99 per cent to enable a further £1million or £2million to be spent on helping the elderly and vulnerable.

The authority is planning to consult residents on this as part of the Big Question next month.

Councillor Steve Clark, cabinet member for finance, said: “Every per cent we increase council tax by is an extra £1million into public services at relatively little weekly cost to the individual.”

Councillor Nic Barlow, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “Services for older people continue to be one of the most challenging areas of the council which is why this precept, ring-fenced specifically to services for older people, on top of the flat rate of council tax is so important.”

He said additional funds raised through the council tax would help the authority to “provide valuable services for some of the most vulnerable people in this borough”.

When people have had chance to have their say in the Big Question on what level of council tax they’d be happy to pay - the outcome will be discussed at cabinet on February 8 2018 before a final decision is made at full council later that month.