The leader of Dartford Labour has accused the borough council of "breaking the contract with the people" ahead of next week's annual budget meeting.

Last week council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con) defended a proposed £4.95 increase to Dartford's share of the council tax bill for Band D properties for 2017/18, up from £162.90 for the first time in seven years.

He said yet another freeze would result in "a degradation of services" as cuts to government support grants begin to dry up, but opposition leader Cllr Jonathon Hawkes said the hike would see "residents paying more, but getting less".

"Labour sees this budget as breaking the contract with the people of Dartford as it is going to see Dartford residents paying more, but getting less," he said

"It's clear that the Conservative government cuts to local council funding are resulting in service cuts and failures.

"It’s also clear that the Conservatives in Dartford are failing to meet even their own objectives – on keeping Dartford safe, town centre regeneration, tackling fly tipping and litter, providing reliable waste and recycling collections – they are failing on all counts."

Among the main issues Cllr Hawkes believes the council is failing on are homelessness - with Dartford among the worst in Kent - and littering.

Homelessness and social care, and keeping Dartford clean, have been earmarked by Cllr Kite as issues he is keen to inject more funding into this year.

New council housing is being built at Temple Hill and an increased £400,000 budget has been set out for temporary accommodation, and the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order hopes to combat littering and other anti-social behaviour.

But Cllr Hawkes continued: "The additional budget (for temporary accommodation) remains woefully insufficient and will not address the problem of rough sleeping in Dartford.

"The Conservatives are also proposing no increase in the homeless prevention budget. This is a false economy – we need to tackle the causes of rough sleeping as well as dealing with emergency need."

On littering and fly tipping, he added: "The Conservatives have failed to keep Dartford clean and are having to rely on the good will and fantastic efforts of resident led voluntary litter picking groups in order to keep our streets clean."

"Labour sees this budget as breaking the contract with the people of Dartford as it is going to see Dartford residents paying more, but getting less" Cllr Jonathon Hawkes

In a KentOnline poll, 79% of people (292 to 79) said they did not feel they were getting value for money from their Dartford council tax.

But Dartford council isn't alone in putting up its share of council tax - Kent County Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue, and the vast majority of the borough’s parish councils are hiking their tax.

The only Dartford parish councils not putting their tax up are Longfield and New Barn, Southfleet, and Swanscome and Greenhithe.

Local authorities across the country are being hit by reductions to the support grants they receive from the government, which will completely dry up in 2019.

Dartford council will receive a support grant of just over £684,000 for 2017/18, which is down 47% from 2016/17.

The council's budget meeting takes place on Monday evening. Follow @KMDartford for live coverage.