HOUSEHOLDERS in Ilkley face an almost ten per cent increase in Council Tax as Bradford Council today sets its budget for next year.

The proposals, which will mean a 9.1 per cent rise across the district, have already been voted through by the City Hall executive committee and are expected to be ratified by full council.

But there will be an extra increase for Ilkley residents as the parish council precept will also rise at inflation busting levels.

Tories and Liberal Democrats at City Hall have described the financial arrangement which comes into force in April as a 'people's' budget, which increases spending on education and social services.

There are sums set aside for sport, leisure and other facilities used by the public in the district.

The proposals were voted through by the joint votes of the two groups at yesterday's executive committee meeting.

The council's share of the increase would be 7.6 per cent with precepts added by the West Yorkshire Police and Fire Service bringing it up to 9.1 per cent.

The increase would mean householders in the average Band D category would pay £1,015 per year compared with £930.64 at present with people in Ilkley paying more.

The Ilkley precept charges would add from £6.60 per year extra to £19.80 depending on the type of property people live in.

But leader of the Labour Group at City Hall Councillor Ian Greenwood criticised the rate of increase. He said: "The 7.6 per cent is in excess of what would be sensible for the people of the district."

He added his group would put its own budget proposals to Thursday's council meeting which would keep it down to about five per cent.

Environment boss and Ilkley district and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth said she expected Council Tax payers would not be pleased about the increase of more than three times the rate of inflation, particularly the 7.6 per cent rise in the local authority's share.

She said: "It is 7.6 per cent too much when many residents will have reduced incomes this year and I am very aware of the situation."

Coun Hawkesworth said central Government, as part of a policy of replacing direct taxation with indirect taxation, had imposed extra responsibilities on local authorities which obliged them to spend more money.

The executive committee has recommended to today's meeting that £8 million should go to education including more than £6 million additional funding for schools.

The rest would include funding for school improvements, social inclusion measures and home-to-school transport.

The £1.3 million initially set aside for the failed Capital of Culture bid would be shared out between services including museums and libraries, leisure services, sports and youth programmes as well as a litter awareness campaign. Social services will receive £2 million a year until 2005 and £1 million from 2005 to 2006.

Deputy council leader Councillor Simon Cooke said: "The capital programme is focused on improving facilities and provision for ordinary people as well as long standing sores."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: "We are delivering a good budget for the people of Bradford. It gives more to schools, care for elderly people and children. It takes a long term view of the real needs of the city."