A FIVE per cent council tax increase, charges for household waste centres and cuts to bus subsidies are among Hampshire County Council (HCC) proposals to save £140m from its budget.

The HCC cabinet discussed in a meeting on Monday (October 16) how to meet the savings needed, which are on top of £340m which has already been slashed from the council’s funds since 2008.

The significant shortfall comes as a result from loss of central government funding, inflationary and demographic changes, according to council leader, councillor Roy Perry.

Despite the pressures, the authority is hoping to make a £500,000 fund available to town and parish councils willing to help communities, and increase funding for children’s services.

Cllr Perry said: “I remain firmly of the view that our priority must continue to be supporting the growing numbers of vulnerable children and adults who rely on our care, and for whom we have a statutory responsibility – an approach residents have told us they also support.

“It is important to be aware that we are actually considering almost an £8 million increase in the funding allocated to children’s care.”

Recommendations made to the cabinet were based on findings from its “Balancing the Budget” public consultation which had approximately 3,700 respondents from Hampshire’s 1.3 million residents.

Basingstoke central councillor, Cllr Michael Westbrook said that he had previously questioned the consultation.

He told The Gazette: “I asked why they held the consultation in August and the response I got was they wanted to rush it through. But the issue is, most people were on their summer holidays while the consultations was taking place.”

Cllr Westbrook added that the proposed cuts would directly impact the school crossing services and bus subsidies in Basingstoke and Deane.

He added: “Where they are cutting anything that isn’t statutory it will be torn right back to the bare bones.”

HCC says the majority of respondents agreed the council should continue its financial strategy, agreed to raising existing charges and introducing new charges to keep services running The cabinet’s recommendations will be put to full council