A NINE per cent rise in council tax is due to lack of government funding, say some Hertfordshire county councillors.

The council met last week and agreed a 9.5 per cent hike in council tax bills after setting a budget of £853.9 million. The increase means the council tax on a band D property will rise by £1.20 a week.

The budget includes a special £5.3 million contingency fund which councillors say should ensure shortfalls in government funding do not affect services later in the year.

County councillor David Beatty, executive member for resources, said: "Setting a budget has not been easy, not least because of all the uncertainties around government funding.

"We were forced to set up a special contingency fund of £5.3 million to make sure that we were not forced into knee-jerk cuts by the Government later in the year."

Councillor Beatty said councillors from all parties were lobbying government for realistic funds to meet local people's needs.

He said: "We have had some success in clawing back £1.5 million of sixth form education funding and getting the Government to backtrack a little on the money they took away from Herts to give to other local councils.

"But we still have a shortfall which unfortunately has to fall to residents to make up through increased council tax if we are to maintain the quality of our services."

Leader of the county's Labour group Councillor Bob Mays, however, said the lack of government funding was not to blame for the hike in taxes.

He said: "The Labour government has been very generous to Hertfordshire.

"They have increased our grant by a massive £37 million to over £550 million.

"But the Tories have failed to pass on all the money, instead they have loaded an extra £7 million into reserves. They now have the gall to blame the Government."

Meanwhile, Hertfordshire Police Authority announced its budget for the coming year an 11.9 per cent increase on last year's in order to maintain and improve services.

Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Authority Peter Holland said: "We had hoped to restrict the burden placed on local council taxpayers but made this difficult decision to protect existing services and make necessary improvements during the coming year."

St Albans District Council will set its budget before council tax bills can be finalised.