COUNCIL tax bills in the district are likely to be hiked by an inflation-busting five per cent this year, it has emerged.

Bosses at Bradford Council say they are minded to take up the Government’s offer of raising the tax by a new maximum of 4.99 per cent to plough more money into the ailing social care system.

It would see bills rising by between £40 and £120 a year, depending on a property’s tax band, with a Band D property paying around £1,258 annually.

Council leader Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe acknowledged that local council taxpayers were already “feeling the strain” but said they had been left with little choice.

Bradford Council’s Labour administration had already been running a public consultation into plans to increase council tax by the then-maximum of 1.99 per cent plus a two per cent levy ringfenced for social care.

But last month, the Government said it would allow local authorities to bring forward tax rises from future years and charge a three per cent social care levy instead.

Raising council tax by 4.99 per cent, rather than the previously planned 3.99 per cent, would bring an extra £1.6m into Council coffers.

Cllr Hinchcliffe accused the Government of funding social care through a “postcode lottery”.

She said: “Inevitably, richer parts of the country will raise much more through council tax than less wealthy areas.

“For example, a one per cent rise in Surrey generates over £6m but in Bradford it raises just £1.6m because we have lower council tax.

“Whilst disagreeing with how the Government funds social care, we are left with little choice but to consult on taking up the option of the extra one per cent on top of the two per cent already outlined as part of the budget process.

“We need to do our best for our elderly and vulnerable residents in the face of such severe Government funding cuts.”

Councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the opposition Conservative group on the Council, said while his group were “not desperately excited” by the prospect of raising council tax, they needed to look carefully at what was needed.

He said: “I do think we have to find a way of making sure we can provide social care and the Government gave us this opportunity and we have got to look into it.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said the Council was “in a bit of a cleft stick”.

But she said while more money was needed for social care, she would rather the authority cut spending elsewhere than raised taxes so drastically.

“They’re happy to borrow money to build swimming pools,” she said.

The Government has said the new format gives local authorities greater flexibility and that it came on top of a new adult social care grant and an improved Better Care Fund.

To take part in the consultation, click here to go to the Council consultation page by February 12.

Tax rises will then be set later that month at the Council’s annual budget meeting.