ESSEX council taxpayers are set to see their bills rise.

Essex County Council is set to increase its council tax bill by about £50 for the average Band D household.

It means the average council tax bill will increase from £1,270 to £1,321.

This is in addition to the demands which will be made by district and borough councils and the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

It means Essex County Council’s part of the council tax is to be increased by 1.99 per cent, along with a two per cent social care precept.

The recommendations follow a budget consultation undertaken last year and are due to be rubber stamped next month.

More than 80 per cent of participants identified care and support for vulnerable older people and those with mental health needs as a priority and the maintenance of roads, footways and bridges as services which should be protected.

A report to cabinet states: “In response to the key messages, the most significant part of the budget is spent on social care services.

“The council is also continuing to invest in the maintenance of roads and footways, with an additional £4 million per annum for roads maintenance.

“The council is investing more in children services and made specific investment in 2019/20 for mental health.”

Among the proposals is an extra £5 million for highways, £5 million to tackle climate change and new investment in technology to support social care case management.

Essex County Council leader David Finch said: “Action speaks louder than words and we intend to use our new fund to take action on climate change.

“We will be advised on how we can get the maximum from that investment by an independent climate change commission.

“For a Band D household, the proposed increase in council tax is 97p a week, which we believe strikes the right balance between protecting services and paying just a little bit extra for them.”

The council’s cabinet will meet to approve the proposals on Tuesday before they go to full council for final approval on February 12.