SOLIHULL Council leader Ken Meeson has warned householders to expect another hefty hike in council tax next year.
This year's near-five per cent rise is likely to be matched by a similar increase for 2008-09 unless the Government pays Solihull the money it is due, he told the Solihull Times yesterday.
He added this seemed a forlorn hope and the borough was set to again receive the lowest grant among the 36 metropolitan councils in England.
Councillor Meeson said Solihull faced at least £5 million of reductions over the next three years and more cuts could not be ruled out.
The closure of public toilets and a reduction in funding for Solihull Music Service have been two of the council's budget-cutting measures, both heavily criticised by local residents.
Councillor Meeson (Con, Dorridge & Hockley Heath) said at the heart of the financial squeeze was the Government's demand for local authorities to make efficiency savings of three per cent.
"We have already made savings on services and have cut the number of council staff through voluntary redundancy - I wonder what more we can do," he said.
"The trouble is the Government thinks we are a wholly affluent borough which doesn't need even the average amount of money handed out in the settlement grant.
"But we have areas of deprivation and an increasingly ageing population who need help."
The looming funding crisis has led to Cllr Meeson and the leaders of the two main opposition parties on the council - the Liberal Democrats and Labour - to send a joint letter to the Government to demand changes in the way money is allocated to councils.
"We want Solihull to get a much better deal," said Cllr Meeson.
