SOCIAL services chiefs say they are "owed" £14m by the Government to meet the costs of looking after young asylum seekers in Kent.

Council leaders say unless the Home Office guarantees that it will reimburse the money Kent has paid out, their proposals to limit this year's council tax increase to 3.7 per cent could change at the eleventh hour.

The wrangle is over a change in the Government's rules that allow local authorities to claim back money they have spent.

According to KCC, it has been left short of funds because ministers have amended the regulations relating to how they award grants.

The county council also says it is awaiting back-dated payments stretching back three years.

Cabinet member for social care Cllr Peter Lake said: "We are owed £14.8m by the Government and we are determined to get the money.

"This [asylum] is the Government's responsibility to fund and should not be a burden on taxpayers in Kent. Unless we get the money, we will have a serious problem and a serious risk to our budget."

KCC has already had talks with Home Office officials but the matter has not yet been resolved.

High Court rulings that have left Kent and other authorities facing a higher bill for looking after unaccompanied minors – child asylum seekers – is one problem.

In addition, the costs of supporting asylum seekers as they arrive in the county continues to fall to Kent, even though all are now dispersed to other parts of the country and their costs are met by central Government.

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Mike Eddy said the Tory claims were "claptrap".

"If KCC has a genuine case for more money, I am sure it will be listened to. This is another Tory scare story about asylum in the run up to the election. They want to blame any council tax increases on asylum seekers," he said.