A proposed council tax rise in Eastbourne has provoked in-fighting among council leaders.

Former leader of Eastbourne Borough Council Graham Marsden, now opposition leader, says residents will feel let down at a 38 per cent rise, proposed by the borough council.

He went on to criticise the Liberal Democrat-run council over what he described as a lack of early planning.

Coun Marsden, a Conservative, said: "The council has wasted the perfect opportunity to plan its finances in a more prudent manner. It was no secret that higher charges for waste collection and recycling were in the pipeline but no steps appear to have been taken to meet that challenge.

"They have had plenty of time to carry out a fundamental overhaul of council costs and make the necessary radical changes to the way in which it works and the services it provides.

"Commercial companies have to work in this way and absorb costs. Why should the council be any different and expect to get away with passing on such staggering additional charges?"

But council bosses claim the hike in the borough element of the tax will be among the lowest in the South-East and have put the blame for the total rise at the door of the county council.

Beryl Healy, Lib Dem leader of the council, said: "The overall rise in the council is higher than I would like but I am delighted that Eastbourne has managed to keep the increase to our part of the charge below a pound a week. The scale of the East Sussex County Council rise is deeply disappointing."

At present, residents in Band D properties pay £978.67 a year, £131.14 of which was set by the borough council.

Coun Healy said the council was facing added costs of £3,217,000 for a new refuse and recycling contract, price inflation, insurance and treasury management and had received a small increase in its Government grant.

East Sussex County Council bosses have warned their element of the council tax, which forms most of the bill, could soar after receiving a reduced Government grant.

The third part of the council tax bill, made up by the Sussex Police Authority (SPA), will be finalised at an SPA meeting tomorrow.

A full council meeting to finalise Eastbourne's figures will be held at the town hall on Wednesday, February 26.