Staffordshire residents are facing a tax hike of almost 5% for county council services in April as the authority faces soaring costs.

The budget for providing social care for elderly residents and vulnerable children and young people has topped £400m for the first time and makes up more than £6 out of every £10 set to be spent by Staffordshire County Council in 2023/24.

A 4.99% county council tax rise is being proposed to help fund services such as social care, schools and road maintenance as well as enabling investments to boost the county's economy and facilities. If the increase is approved it would mean residents living in Band D properties paying an extra £1.34 a week, taking their annual county council tax bill to £1,471.23.

As residents see food and energy bills go up the authority is also facing rising costs, such as fuel for school transport and building materials for highway maintenance. It is earmarking a £15m contingency fund to help cover increased costs during the next financial year.

District and borough councils collect council tax on behalf of the county council (Sarah Garner).

In recent years a number of councils across the country have faced bankruptcy. But Ian Parry, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for finance, said: "We pride ourselves on being well-run; financial security is really important to us.

"We have never been a council that takes high risks and we have never invested in schemes that seem to have been the downfall of some councils. We are a steady authority that tries to offer value for money and a stable budget.

"The financial challenges on the council this year are different from previous years. They're more economically-focused, given where we are with inflation and other macroeconomic factors.

"As well as inflation costs, it's recognising people are struggling with the cost of living and pressures on the organisation being able to deliver services to families. Other priorities include investment in jobs, care, schools and roads; we recognise the challenges on everyone and we are doing our best.

"Last year we had to factor in an extra £25m just to cover inflation and we weren't expecting our payroll costs to increase beyond 2%. Apart from that there are also pressures on the council in terms of demand for services.

"There are more children in care than last year and more children in care with complex needs There is also an increase, as there always is, of people needing our help as they grow older, and help coming out of hospital.

"The combination of another one-year settlement from Government and the variables of inflation and energy costs, plus uncertainties over which parts of adult social care reforms are still to be implemented immediately – and at what price – pose challenges for any authority trying to plan for the long term and share its plans with the public. Nonetheless, we are proposing a balanced budget and promise to spend every pound of taxpayers' money as carefully and wisely as we can."

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