West Sussex council tax bills are set to soar unless the Government steps in with last- minute funds.

Councillors will be warned of the increase, which could be as high as 9.5 per cent, at a meeting tomorrow.

The inflation-busting figure for services in West Sussex would mean the average Band D taxpayer having to find an extra £60.

The picture could get even gloomier because money for Sussex Police and individual district and borough councils has still to be added.

The county council has been given a provisional standard spending assessment of £532.8 million, an increase of £32 million.

But West Sussex has said it may be forced to spend above its assessment figure to "meet unavoidable extra responsibilities" placed on it by the Government.

Helen Kilpatrick, director of resources, says in a report: "Such additional spending above the increase in standard spending assessment has to be met entirely from council tax with no contribution from the Government."

A consultation period about the annual financial settlement from Whitehall ends on January 10, after which the situation will become more clear.

Mrs Kilpatrick has told the Cabinet: "The major theme of our response is extreme disappointment that unavoidable cost pressures, particularly on social services, have not been recognised fully in the settlement."

Another major area of concern is over waste management with the council claiming it is receiving little extra help towards the cost of meeting tough new environmental controls introduced by the Government at a time when the volume of rubbish is growing.

East Sussex County Council has said its council tax should rise about five per cent in the next year.

Members are planning cuts and savings of about £8 million in a bid to keep its council tax down, including axing 40 council jobs.

Deputy leader Daphne Bagshawe has said: "High council tax is a cut in someone's pocket.

"We are absolutely determined not to do that unless we have to."

The West Sussex Cabinet will recommend a final budget and council tax figure at its next meeting on January 29.

This will be debated by the full council on February 15.