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| Surrey Council tax rise of 15% approved before public vote | Surrey Council tax rise of 15% approved before public vote |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 15% increase in council tax has been approved in Surrey - before a referendum on the issue has been held. | A 15% increase in council tax has been approved in Surrey - before a referendum on the issue has been held. |
| The council's cabinet has approved the rates hike, which is due come into effect in April - a month before a legally-required vote. | The council's cabinet has approved the rates hike, which is due come into effect in April - a month before a legally-required vote. |
| A referendum would cost up to £300,000, plus a further £630,000 to send out new bills if the rise was rejected. | A referendum would cost up to £300,000, plus a further £630,000 to send out new bills if the rise was rejected. |
| The Conservative-led council is expected to approve the measure at a meeting next week. | The Conservative-led council is expected to approve the measure at a meeting next week. |
| If the budget is approved by the full council, as is expected, the referendum would take place on 4 May, alongside local elections. | If the budget is approved by the full council, as is expected, the referendum would take place on 4 May, alongside local elections. |
| 'More for less' | 'More for less' |
| Any authority wanting to increase council tax by more than 2% must put the plan to a vote. | Any authority wanting to increase council tax by more than 2% must put the plan to a vote. |
| The proposed increase in Surrey would add nearly £200 to a Band D bill, bringing it to about £1,500 per year. | The proposed increase in Surrey would add nearly £200 to a Band D bill, bringing it to about £1,500 per year. |
| It has blamed government spending cuts and an increased demand for social care for the rise. | |
| A substitute budget would take effect if the council lost the referendum. | A substitute budget would take effect if the council lost the referendum. |
| Councillor Hazel Watson, leader of the Lib-Dem opposition on the council said: "The Conservative administration at County Hall is asking Surrey residents to pay more for less - an unreasonable and unaffordable 15% council tax increase and £93 million of unspecified cuts in council services. | Councillor Hazel Watson, leader of the Lib-Dem opposition on the council said: "The Conservative administration at County Hall is asking Surrey residents to pay more for less - an unreasonable and unaffordable 15% council tax increase and £93 million of unspecified cuts in council services. |
| "It is time for the Tories at County Hall to end their secrecy and to spill the beans about the £93 million of cuts which are coming down the pipeline." | "It is time for the Tories at County Hall to end their secrecy and to spill the beans about the £93 million of cuts which are coming down the pipeline." |
| The council said the alternative budget would lead to cuts of £30m in 2017-18, rising to £73m in 2019-20. | The council said the alternative budget would lead to cuts of £30m in 2017-18, rising to £73m in 2019-20. |
| The council said: "Because a referendum on the proposed council tax would not happen until 4 May 2017, the council would lose time beginning the extra work to achieve the additional £30m service reductions it would need to find within 2017/18." | The council said: "Because a referendum on the proposed council tax would not happen until 4 May 2017, the council would lose time beginning the extra work to achieve the additional £30m service reductions it would need to find within 2017/18." |