THE blame for council tax rises should not be directed at the town halls which impose them, but on the Government for cutting funding to local authorities.

That’s the charge facing the Conservatives from Labour after a decade of austerity which has decimated the central funding given to areas like Barrow.

One side says that cutting public spending nationally was a necessity because of Labour extravagance while in power.

The other argues it was Tory ideology which bashed the poorest areas hardest because they are more likely to depend on local councils for services.

Whatever your take, there’s no denying tax payers have ended up paying one way or another.

Council tax rises are now regarded as an inevitability and few can remember when they have ever been cut.

Much of it comes down to how you see the role of local councils.

Should they exist to provide only the most basic statutory services or should they provide a range of help to support communities and the vulnerable?

What is clear is that the rising costs of adult social care and children looked after is unsustainable.

People have choices to make in the December election.

Irrespective of who gets into power, it’s a dead cert we will be paying more council tax in 2020-21.