Council tax for Cheshire East residents will rise by 3.75 per cent after being frozen for five years.

The increase means Band D property residents will have to pay an extra 88p per week - £1,261.95 a year compared to £1,216.34 the previous year.

It comes after the central government grant allocated to councils was slashed by more than £16m for 2016-17, presenting the council with what members say are ‘the toughest financial challenges it has faced in seven years’.

But council officers say vital front-line services will continue to be protected.

Coun David Brown, deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, said the council had never faced such a situation before but said it was in ‘a far stronger position than many other authorities’ due to ‘strong financial management’. He added that many other authorities were asking their residents to meet a greater increase.

He said: “I congratulate our finance team on developing a robust budget in very challenging circumstances.

“Due to the effective way we have delivered services in recent years, we are in a far stronger position than many other authorities.

“I hope that residents will understand our position and will recognise that we continue to deliver excellent value for money.”

He added: “While our increase is 3.75 per cent, some local authorities are increasing their council tax by 3.99 per cent with the prospect of the same level of increase annually for five years.”

Macclesfield South ward councillor Laura Jeuda said the extra funds should be used to protect frontline services, including the proposed closure of the childrens centre at Broken Cross.

She said: “I think it is a great idea if the money is going to be used for essential services and we don’t see cuts like we are seeing in respite care and the closing of children’s centres.I think most people are happy to pay more if they know it’s going to pay for services, instead of being given to councillors in the form of extra responsibility allowances.

“But we have lost the respite centre and now we see the closure of children’s centres.

“If we’re not careful we’ll have no services left.”

The council’s Cabinet will be asked to recommend the increase to council at its next meeting on February 25.