AN OPPOSITION chief has accused council bosses in Eastleigh of using ‘stealth taxes’ to fund freezes in council tax.

It comes after civic chiefs announced their decision to leave the average band D tax level at £104.70 in 2018 – for the ninth year running.

But councillor Judith Grajewski, leader of the Conservative group, said the Liberal Democrat-run borough council would offset the missed revenue by raising fees and charges.

This comes after civic bosses backed plans to raise fees and charges for several services including pest control services, charges for traders wanting to dump their building waste and theatre hire rates – with rates to hire out the theatre and meeting rooms at The Point Theatre increasing by up to 25 per cent.

Council bosses hope this will bring in an extra £72,020 in 2018/19.

Council leader Keith House said council charges were rising for discretionary services while others were coming down or being scrapped.

But councillor Grawjeski said: “While Eastleigh Borough Council is freezing its portion of the council tax, fees and charges for services are being increased from January 2018 to generate a minimum increase in yield of 4.9 per cent.

“Cllr House likes to spin the council tax-freeze line while quietly getting on with hiking the stealth taxes.

“This is becoming an annual event whereby residents are hit with ‘stealth taxes’ as the council tries to plug the holes in its finances.”

According to an official report issued by the authority, the weekly hire rate at The Point Theatre will raise from £4,200 to £4,350 for community groups.

Pest control services are also set to go up with the general advice visit to a domestic property set to cost £26.50 instead of £25.

Meanwhile, increases on trade waste charges will go up from April with the minimum charge to collect bulky waste set to be £60 instead of £55.

The biggest rise, of 25 per cent, sees the standard commercial rate for hiring The Point’s studio theatre increase from £20 to £25 per hour.

Louisa Milburn, general manager at The Point said: “We pride ourselves on continuing to support local performance at an affordable rate. We will continue to work closely with community groups in 2018 and beyond.”

Councillor House said: “Council tax is an unfair tax that hits those residents on fixed and lower incomes. It is why the Lib Dems are proud to be freezing it again. Some council charges are rising for discretionary services.

“Others are coming down or being scrapped and the council is protecting grants to community organisations and all services from cuts.”