COUNCIL tax bills could rise by up to six per cent because of the Government’s failure to establish how many migrants from Eastern Europe are settling in the UK, according to the former leader of Kent County Council.

Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, now the leader of the Local Government Association, has written to the Home Secretary warning the government’s failure to properly monitor the influx of migrants into parts of the UK was in danger of leaving councils out of pocket.

He said dozens of councils were being let down by a system which was failing to compile accurate statistics on migration.

“There are a number of local authorities for whom the current system of measuring the number of migrants in specific council areas is failing to ensure adequate funding to keep council services to local people maintained,” the letter states.

“Working migrants have become an invisible population whose children need school places, who need to be housed appropriately and in some cases need social services. Official statistics have failed to reflect this.”

As a result, there was a risk services would have to be cut by cash-strapped councils and local taxes would have to rise “disproportionately for the growing migrant population.”

The warning stems from concerns about the mounting pressure migrants from new EU member states are putting on some communities.

It is understood representatives of some Kent councils were at a seminar last week discussing concerns about the issue.

The leader of Kent County Council’s opposition Labour group said the warning was over-exagerated and migrants were making a valuable contribution to the economy.

Cllr Mike Eddy said: “The reality is that a lot of these migrants from EU member states, like the Poles, are single with no dependants and doing jobs that British people do not want to do.”

Mr Reid has announced he is setting up an independent body to advise on possible migration limits.