LEADERS at South Gloucestershire Council are proposing the authority’s lowest ever council tax rise - but opposition councillors have raised concerns that cuts will mean services to the public are affected.

The Conservative administration has announced plans to increase council tax by just 2.5 percent.

This is lower than the expected 2.9 percent for the financial year 2010/11 and less than the 3.9 percent increase this year.

The lower rise has been attributed to the authority collecting £800,000 more council tax than it thought it would.

The extra revenue will be shared between lowering the council tax rise and contributing towards a £650,000 funding boost for safeguarding vulnerable children.

Cllr John Calway, leader of the council, said: "Many more residents than last year tell us that we are providing better value for money and we are committed to meeting their rising expectations, especially during these tough economic times.

"Our proposals for the district’s lowest ever council tax rise this year coupled with more investment in essential frontline services, such as caring for vulnerable children, is evidence of this commitment."

However, the lower than expected increase has been criticised by other councillors who are claiming some of the proposed cost-cutting measures will be detrimental to the district.

In a budget report, to be presented at the council’s cabinet meeting next Monday, February 1, leaders are proposing to bring forward several service reviews.

Service reviews are planned to take place right across the authority during the next three years to improve efficiency and reduce its workforce by 317 posts.

It is being proposed that some service reviews planned for year three should be brought forward to year two.

Cllr Roger Hutchinson, leader of the council’s Labour group, said: "We are particularly anxious that the service reviews, which are bound to be painful anyway, will now be rushed and end up as cuts rather than as efficiencies. The report does not even spell out which reviews are being brought forward."

Cllr Ruth Davis, leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors, said: "Rushing through cuts to council's staffing levels in order to keep in line with Conservative national party politics is not looking after the local public interest.

"We accept that the council has to do things in the most efficient way and that might mean a change in the way things are done.

"However, we are worried that cutting staffing levels too fast will mean disruptions and loss of services to the public."