COUNCIL tax in Swindon will rise by five per cent if that is the will of the people.

Although the public is being consulted from Monday on three possible increases five per cent, seven- and-a-half per cent and 10 per cent council leader Mike Bawden is prepared to deliver the lowest.

It would be a full 10 per cent less than rises imposed in the last two years by the previous Labour administration.

However, there will be a price to pay in the form of cuts to services.

"We are in a position now to deliver at five per cent if that's what the people want and are prepared for us to make the necessary savings to achieve that," said Coun Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns).

Those savings will include the closure of two council-owned care homes, delaying building the new central library, cutting back on concessionary fares for children and the elderly on public transport and slashing grants to the voluntary sector.

There would also have to be an increase in charges for some Social Services provisions.

Refuse sacks would no longer be provided free and a number of out-of- town toilets would have to be closed.

A five per cent rise would push up the council tax for a D band property to £1,100.

In December, after council officers came up with sums that called for a 13.1 per cent rise, the Government found a further £1.2million for Swindon.

The officers then came up with 10.9 per cent as the rise required.

But Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott warned any council trying to impose an increase in double figures would be "capped."

The result of the public consultation will be reported to the cabinet on February 4, though the council is not obliged to abide by the outcome.