The government spending review has given local government the worst financial settlement for a decade.

Speaking about the settlement, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats leader at County Hall, said: “The crushing squeeze on local government funding by central government will put pressure both on maintaining council services that need to be increased not cut, and make council tax rise by as much as 5% each year.

“Council tax in Essex has more than doubled since Labour came to power and under Conservative administrations at County Hall. The unfair council tax must be abolished and replaced with a local tax based on an individual’s ability to pay.” Cllr Smith-Hughes added.