Tendring councillors have been forced to plump for sweeping cuts in improvements to services rather than a major hike in council tax bills this year.
They warned they faced more cutbacks unless the Government was willing to increase its yearly handout to the council.
Council finance chiefs had warned of increases in the Tendring Council demand of up to 45 per cent - the equivalent of an extra 96p per week on a band D property.
However, this would mean running the risk of being capped.
Instead, the council is proposing a rise of 9.9 per cent and cutting £1.7 million from the proposed budget for 2004-5.
Council leader Terry Allen told a special meeting of the cabinet: "I recognise that this is a far from satisfactory position, but I think that the Government has put us in a position that, at the moment, this is the only choice that we have."
Published Tuesday January 13, 2004
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