The amount of council tax residents pay to Essex County Council is set to increase by nearly £60 for the average household.

From April those living in a Band D property will pay £1,221.75 to County Hall for things like maintaining our roads and to pay for social care.

This compares with £1,163.70 last year – a difference of £58.05, or £1.12 a week.

The total increase is just under 5 per cent, and represents the third successive year households have seen an increase.

The county council’s increase is in addition to demands set by borough, district and parish councils and police and fire authorities.

Leader David Finch said: “The council has been a low-tax authority for many years and has had over five years out of the last eight with no increase.

“Clearly with the pressure on social care we have taken up the care precept, and we want to continue to provide excellent services to residents of Essex and we feel it is really important we do that.”

Two per cent of the total increase has been specifically ring fenced for care of the vulnerable, while the other 2.99 per cent will be used to support the delivery of services and infrastructure projects.

The council has promised to spend a record £300 million next year on creating new school places, fixing potholes, training apprentices and investing in infrastructure such as dualling the A120 and the new M25 junction 7A.

“From where I sit I assure residents they are getting value for money and I point to the examples of our schools, with 92 per cent being rated good or outstanding, to how they are,” he said.

Louise McKinlay, councillor responsible for resources, said: “It is not just about saving money, we cannot get away from the reality that more money does not mean that a service is better and we have seen that through children’s centres.

“It is about how we use the money to make the services fit for purpose.”

From 2020, Essex County Council will receive no funding from the Government.

The final budget proposals will be voted on by the full council.

However it is unlikely it will be defeated as it is a Conservative budget and Conservative-controlled authority.

Households will also see an increase in the portion of council tax people pay for policing.