THE county council is looking to increase its share of council tax next year as part of a plan to plug a £26.5 million gap in its budget.

Worcestershire County Council's cabinet will be meeting to discuss plans to raise its portion of council tax by 2.5 per cent - including one per cent set aside for adult social care - to help fill the hole.

Based on current estimates, the increase would see the county council's share of council tax rise by around £33 extra next year for the average band D household notwithstanding any other increases by district councils or police and fire service precepts.

Cabinet papers say the council is in a “strong position” going into the next 12 months “despite an extraordinary year dealing and responding to the Covid pandemic.”

The council has also revealed a £26.5 million gap in its budget for the next year - almost three quarters of which is taken up by adult and children's social care - to be covered by £9 million extra from the government in Covid funding, £5 million more from the proposed council tax increase and around £7 million in cuts and savings.

The council adds that it will use £3 million from its reserves and expects £2.4 million extra from business rates.

Cabinet papers also show the council predicts a £76.5 million gap in its subsequent two budgets between 2022 and 2024.

The much-delayed fair funding review - which plans to take another look at the formula used by the government to work out how much money each council receives ever year – was already hit with a delay because of Brexit and was postponed again due to coronavirus.

Cabinet meets from 10am on Thursday (January 7) and will be looking to agree to put its £355 million budget and council tax increases out for public consultation.