COUNCIL tax bills are set to rise every year for the next three years after Wiltshire Council voted to accept a new funding deal from the government on Tuesday.

The council’s Tory leadership says the four-year agreement will give it certainty and the ability to plan ahead as it tries to save £45million over the next four years.

Cabinet member for finance Dick Tonge said the council was under relentless financial pressure from central government, and council leader Jane Scott said rejecting the offer would be “ridiculous”.

“Obviously it’s not as much money as we would like,” said Baroness Scott.

“But at least we know what we are planning for. Planning can’t be done on an annual basis, it’s got to be long term.”

Lib Dem councillors attacked the proposed deal, but later abstained from voting.

Group leader Glenis Ansell said she was happy to see a four-year settlement being offered, but she could not support the deal as it did not guarantee the council’s outgoings.

John Hubbard said he too welcomed a four-year settlement, but not a “four-year set of handcuffs” that “nobody in business would even contemplate”.

Cllr Tonge accused the Lib Dems of being negative and “niggling” against the administration.

Labour councillors supported the offer, under which the council should get to keep more of its business rates over the coming years.

Group leader Ricky Rogers said the council was in a “financial strait-jacket” and had to live within its means, adding: “This is the best we are going to get.”

Ian McLennan, also Labour, said central government was trying to destroy local authorities through constant cuts and called on the council to fight back.

The rise includes a two per cent hike in council tax and a two per cent social care levy that can only be spent on vulnerable and elderly adults.

The total increase adds up to more than £200 for an average household by 2019/20.

If the council can make bigger savings than those currently predicted, it may not have to increase council tax by the full amount each year.

Under the four-year offer, government funding will fall from £35m to zero by 2019/20.