Barnet's council tax will be going up by 9.5 per cent this year.

This is the recommendation being made to a special meeting of the policy committee next Monday.

It means the Band D tax will be £728.07 -- an increase of £62.93.

The level of council tax is bound to become an issue in the May elections.

While Tory leader Liz Mammatt called the rise "preposterous", council leader Alan Williams said it would mean extra money for vital services.

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