Worcestershire residents are set to be hit with higher council taxes once the budget is rubber stamped next month.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday morning, county councillors discussed the draft budget which will see “record investment” into adults and children’s social care.

However, this comes at a cost, with the average Band D household expected to pay £52.95 more each year, an average of one pound per week.

Leader of the council with responsibility for finance, Simon Geraghty, said: “We are very mindful that whilst we are proposing a council tax rise of some one pound per week that we need to balance that rise, because people are facing difficulties.

“We are not proposing the maximum rise in council tax permitted and the rise will mean that we remain as one of the lowest levels of county council tax in the country.”

In total, the budget will rise by 0.94 per cent, plus a one per cent Adult Social Care Levy, and a two per cent Adult Social Care Levy that was carried forward from 2021/22.

The net budget for 2022/2023 will sit at just over £373 million, a growth of £38.4 million.

The budget for adult and children’s social care will rise by £25 million, £17.1 going to adult care and £7.9 million going to children's.

Councillor Andy Roberts, with responsibility for children and families, said: “I was struck when I read the whole thing by the magnitude of what we are talking about. A million pounds of spending a day.

“It’s quite reasonable for the taxpayer to look beyond all the spend and say what is my council tax going to. When it comes through the letter box, you’re looking at the bottom line.

“Three quarters of the rise is to help those who are most vulnerable in society. What better testament could we have from today than to say that’s a valid way to spend money.”

Councillor Tony Miller added: “It’s always painful when you have got to pay more out but speaking to the parish councils that I go to, when you say, ‘do we reduce funding for caring for people or do we increase it?’ Nobody argues about an increase for caring for people."

Labour Party councillor Richard Udall urged the cabinet to work with the opposition and scrutiny committees.

He said: “We are not the enemy, we can help.

“I would ask you not to instinctively reject any suggestions from opposition parties, we want to work with you to get the best out of difficult times.

“Cooperation and willingness to hear different views could lead to an even better budget.”

Deputy leader of the council, Adrian Hardman, replied: “I’m afraid to say in the 16 years that I have known him, I have yet to come across a constructive idea that I have been able to implement, but I live in hope.”