Council tax in Sutton is likely to rise by nearly five per cent as the budget for next year is set to be finalised later this month.

Officers are proposing to use the Government’s additional council tax precept for adult social care, which is two per cent, to help with costs of adult care for the elderly.

That would be coupled with a further 2.99 per cent increase to “cover growing inflationary costs and budget pressures” – bringing it to 4.99 per cent in total.

This means the average band D property will see an increase in its council tax of £26.17 (two per cent) a year for the adult social care precept.

Then there would be an extra £39.12 a year for general purposes.

Band D council tax properties are set to pay £1,373.81 in 2019/20, which is an increase of £65.29 compared with the financial year to March 2019.

The council blames Government funding cuts and “continued pressure” on its budget for the rise, as the budget will be confirmed on February 28.

Cllr Ruth Dombey, the council’s leader, said: “Like councils across the country we continue to have to make tough decisions regarding how we invest the borough’s budget. We are working with our partners to review all the services we provide to make sure we invest every penny as efficiently as possible. We continue to look for new ways of working to save us money to maintain the services we all need.

“But central government reductions to our overall funding continue to put pressure on all local councils. Once again the government has given with one hand and taken away with the other. We continually need to do ever more with even less.

“We still face challenges in ensuring we have enough homes to house our vulnerable residents, provide enough school places for our growing young population and can provide the support those with special education needs require.

“Despite the pressures we face we remain ambitious for Sutton. We know the borough is already a great place to live and work and we are working hard to keep it that way.

“We thank residents for all they already do to help and hope you share our ambitions for all we are still to achieve.”

It comes as Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and City Hall look to hike the Greater London Authority precept by 8.93 percent.

This means it’ll rise from £294.23 in 2018/19 to £320.51 the following financial year, though he insists this extra funding will go towards the London Fire Brigade and Scotland Yard.

That draft budget will go before the GLA on February 22 later this month, days before the council’s budget is considered on February 25.