COUNCIL tax could rise by as much as 10 per cent next year, and there are calls for householders to be given a say on how their money is spent.

At tonight's Swindon Council cabinet meeting, the Labour party will be recommending that members of the public are consulted on how the extra tax is spent.

This follows the Government's financial settlement for Swindon which would only enable services to remain at the same level as they are at the moment.

As reported exclusively in the Evening Advertiser, the Government advised the borough council that its spending power would increase by 3.4 per cent for the next financial year well below the national average of 4.9 per cent.

If the council stuck to the Government guidelines, council tax would rise by 5.8 per cent, equivalent to £43 extra for the average Band D household.

But the Labour Party wants more money for the council to spend with a rise of up to 10 per cent.

Spokesman Hitesh Taylor said: "The settlement announced last week will allow most of our budgets to stand still, but pressures grow each year in every service area. We want to go to residents in the borough with two or three options to increase council tax which will result in extra revenue for services."

He said the Labour party will be tonight recommending that representatives from all three main political parties arrange a meeting with the Local Government Minister to discuss Swindon's settlement and to put forward the case to increase the borough's spending powers.

The party will also be calling for two service planning seminars, to be held in January and February.

In early February, if members of the cabinet vote in favour, the public will be consulted.

Tonight's meeting starts at 6.45pm in the Civic Offices, Euclid Street.