FINANCE bosses in Tendring have warned further cuts will be made to services in coming years – and say the Government is to blame.

Tendring Council’s cabinet agreed on Friday to propose a 1.99 per cent increase in its share of council tax bills in 2016/7.

If approved by the full council next month, it means the average Band D home will pay the district council £150.58 next year for services.

But Tom Howard, cabinet member for finance, warned that more cuts would come despite council tax rises due to the Governments moves to phase out local government grants.

It means that despite making cuts of £10million over the past four years, the council will need to slash a further £5million from its budget by 2019/20.

Mr Howard said: “Putting the 2016/7 budget together has been the toughest yet and emphasises just how difficult it is becoming to make the necessary changes to the budget to offset the front loading of funding cuts from the Government.

“Things are now really starting to bite.”

“The Government continue to do a really good job of cutting our funding and then using misdirection to blame any local reductions in services on local government.

“This council is doing all that it can to continue to deliver the range of important service expected by residents, businesses and visitors, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain such as approach without having to consider budget reductions such as the ceasing of black sacks.

“I would love to sit here and say that we will not be undertaking any further cuts, but that is something that looks impossible given the forecast of a further £5million of savings required over the period to 2019/20.

“This is primarily due to a cut in Government finding.”

The proposed budget also includes slashing back the council’s free parking scheme in a bid to cut costs from £200,000 to £100,000 a year.

The scheme, which allows residents to use most council-owned car parks free of charge, could see residents having to opt in for a virtual electronic permit rather than a paper permit being issued to every household It will also exclude the months of July and August and free parking for all after 3pm will be pushed back to 6pm.

The changes have been criticsed by traders across the district.