by political editor Paul Francis

Councils increasing their council tax this year are under fire for setting rates that avoid the need to hold a public referendum.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has accused authorities of being ‘referendum dodgers’ by deliberately setting council tax increase below 3.5% - the point at which a referendum would be triggered.

The minister did not single out individual councils but two in Kent - labour-run Gravesham and the Tory-controlled Tunbridge Wells - have both chosen to put up bills rather than freeze them with the help of a government subsidy.

In the case of Gravesham, the increase is 0.4% and in Tunbridge Wells, it is 3.3%. All other Kent councils are holding the council tax at last year’s levels.

Mr Pickles said: ‘We are seeing a number of councils acting as referendum dodgers who quite cynically are raising council tax by 3.49 per cent in a naked move to dodge the public vote. These councils are treating the electorate with contempt. They should have the courage to put their hikes to the vote and justify the tax rises. Instead they are running for cover."

"Councillors have a moral duty to sign up to keep down the cost of living. Anything less is a kick in the teeth to hard-working, decent taxpayers."

Gravesham says its increase is needed to stave off cuts that would have been even deeper.

It says the government’s offer was for a one-off grant to hold the council tax this year but nothing in subsequent years.

Tunbridge Wells council says its increase means that it will be able to safeguard services at the same level as last year.