HOUSEHOLDERS must brace themselves for a record rise in their council tax bills as the government eases the cap the Tories relentlessly kept on town hall spending.

An average rise of seven per cent is forecast.

But since council tax bills in East Lancashire went up on average by almost that much last year when the screw on spending was still in place they are, unless the government shows some political favouritism, unlikely to be much lower.

But this time there is a difference householders must take into account.

Under the Tories, local government - largely Labour-controlled - was not trusted on spending and was kept under a tight rein. Its independence and control of local affairs suffered as a result.

But now, freed somewhat from that grip, councils not only have a better opportunity to manage their own affairs, they also have far less excuse to tell voters to blame the government when they fail to deliver services or charge steeply for them.

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