Slough Borough Council will confirm a Council Tax rise of 1.9% on Tuesday in a move that places the council on collision course with the Government.

Budget proposals were discussed at Cabinet this week ahead of a council meeting on Tuesday which will see the council tax band set for the year.

The cabinet has proposed a figure of £1,391 for Band D council tax, including police and fire services, with an average of £1,181 for Band D council tax for services provided by borough and parish councils.

Plans to hike council tax by 1.9% have been slammed as a ‘cynical attempt to dodge a public referendum’.

Slough Borough Council is proposing the increase for 2013/14 to maintain ‘essential’ services for the town’s poor and vulnerable.

The figure is 0.1% below the 2% threshold which would trigger a referendum – meaning residents would be able to vote on the changes.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“The decision to raise the rates by 1.9% is a cynical attempt to dodge a public referendum over the rise and shows the contempt councillors seem to hold local taxpayers in.”

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles attacked councils who ‘try to creep under the radar’ on Monday, January 28.

Despite the additional spending of the Borough Council, Deputy leader Cllr James Swindlehurst is focusing on Parish Council spend – singling out Britwell for special attention. He said:

“We will be asking parishes what services they will be providing, but it seems to me that Britwell parish’s figures are quite high and I am not sure what extra luxuries their residents will be getting.”

Band D properties in Britwell will be paying £66.10 compared to £47.40 in Colnbrook with Poyle and £36.72 in Wexham Court.