Liberal Democrat councillors are still scrambling to find additional savings to deliver their promised 1.9 per cent council tax increase, two days before the council was due to set its annual budget.

The figure would still leave Kingston residents facing an increase above the 1.6 per cent national average predicted by the Local Government Association, and neighbouring Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth are freezing their bills, while Merton has posted a 1.4 per cent cut.

Kingston Council leader Councillor Derek Osbourne said: “I have asked portfolio holders to go back and do some more searching and they have been doing that. I have been getting emails on this subject this morning. I am confident we will get to 1.9 per cent.”

Conservative councillors scrutinising the proposals on Tuesday night raised concerns about the £9m of budget risk identified by finance officers, forecast reductions in reserves for repairs and renewals, and cuts to the council’s capital programme.

Interim director of finance Peter Derrick said the council would strengthen budget monitoring procedures to cope with the high level of risk, and Coun Osbourne said he would propose a programme of recruitment restraint in his revised budget proposals.

He also hinted he would find additional money to repair roads damaged by the cold weather in December and January.

Conservative leader Councillor Howard Jones said his group would propose an alternative budget at Thursday’s council meeting.

The final budget and council tax increase are due to be set on Thursday night.