Councils have warned inflation could lead to cuts in services - with one council forced to hike up the cost of cremations due to rising energy prices.

Rising costs accounted for £1.3 billion of Kent County Council's (KCC's) overall budget and affected virtually every service.

Finance chiefs have warned “significant decisions” lay ahead.

Fears over a cash-crisis have already seen some councils in Kent take steps to minimise the impact of unplanned rises in the costs of energy.

With the government cap on council tax leaving authorities with little room to manoeuvre,some are turning to increased fees and charges.

Tunbridge Wells council has even proposed increasing the charge for cremation by £25 because of what it has described as the ‘energy cost increase.’

The rises are to plug a gap of £1.8 million in its budget predicted within two years.

Most of the funding gap will be filled by an increase in car parking charges, which were last raised in 2017 and the council expect the move will raise £408,620 annually.

Tonbridge and Malling Council set aside £700,000 to enable it to keep its leisure centres open.

The money will be allocated in stages should energy prices continue to rise. The sum will help the not-for-profit trust that runs the centres absorb any increases.

Council leader Matt Boughton said: “ We have identified £700,000 from reserves to help them cover the costs of energy bills for the rest of the financial year; we hope it is not needed but is there if it is.

"I think there is a recognition [by centre users] that the council and the trust are not immune from the pressures we are all facing.”

Ashford council says the budget for waste collection, which was estimated to increase by 4.3% - £3.98m - in 2022-23 is now expected to rise by 12.9%, largely because of rising fuel costs.

"The council says that will create a budget pressure of £385,000.

Cllr Peter Oakford, KCC cabinet member for finance, said that as things stood, the council was anticipating £40 to £50 million of unbudgeted inflationary costs this year alone.

“Soaring inflation is affecting our delivery across the board, from home care to road maintenance; from waste disposal to home to school transport. Increased energy and fuel costs are hitting frontline services, from staff travelling to provide domiciliary care to increased energy prices in social care settings.

“There is no avoiding the fact that we are going to have to make more extremely tough choices this year, and in the years to come. The fuel price hike and inflation increase is hitting us hard, as it is everyone who lives in Kent.

“We totally understand that everyone in Kent and across the country is currently dealing with a very concerning rise in the cost of living. But the deep-felt impacts of rising inflation, following swiftly off the back of the punishing pandemic, is also presenting us with significant financial challenges.”

The impact of the rising costs on KCC was recently underlined by a report saying there was a predicted increase of £435,000 on electricity bills for its own offices and buildings and £667,000 for its street-lights.

Road and transport related costs account for an estimated £4.1m increase in contractors’ fees.