Wiltshire Council is to rise its tax by 5 per cent this year.

This is the maximum rise the unitary council can apply without going to the public in a referendum.

The average Band D property will now be taxed £1,719.90 a year by the council, an increase of £1.57 per week.

This increase does not include the additional taxes levied by parish councils, the police and the fire service.

This rise does not apply to households in the Swindon Borough Council area; the authority will set its own proposals.

Wiltshire Council Leader Richard Clewer argued the rise was justified despite the cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “The cost-of-living crisis impacts every business and every person from inflation but we have been absolutely rigorous in terms of controlling our costs and finding a way to deliver what we need to deliver. Inflation has hit us as badly as it has hit anyone.

“So, I’m afraid yes, we do need to put tax up to cover it.”

Cllr Clewer added if average earnings were not increasing by a larger amount, then it would have been a much more difficult decision to raise the tax.

“Every bit of extra money we are getting is going on statutory services. These are things we have got to provide that quite literally are life or death to people or those things that people need to do their day to day lives.”

Cabinet member for finance Nick Botterill said: “There’s the general inflation rate of 10.7 per cent which we’re suffering from as well.

“Our staff costs this year went up 6.7 per cent, so considerably in excess of what we’re proposing to put up the council tax by for the next year.

“Some of our contacts have gone up by 20 per cent. Of course we don’t want to put up charges, of course people don’t want to pay more money but we’re putting it up by considerably less than the costs that are coming at us in multiple directions.”

Liberal Democrat Leader Ian Thorn said: “It’s highly regrettable that the maximum amount is being taken from Wiltshire residents because people are finding it tough, and this will be another hammer blow.”

The budget is to be debated and finalised on February 21 by the council.

Mr Thorn added: “In the past we have proposed that it be lower but whether or not we will be able to this time is another question.

“Whatever comes out of the debate, this is a significant and difficult rise.”