Staffordshire residents in Band D properties are facing a bill of more than £1,300 for county council services next year as plans to increase tax by almost 5% move forward.

County councillors will be asked to back the budget and tax level for 2021/22 at a full meeting on February 11 after cabinet members recommended approval this week.

The authority is set to increase council tax by 4.99% – which includes a 3% rise towards the cost of social care. Around two thirds of the council budget will go towards social care and child protection in the next financial year.

This means that residents in Band D households would pay £1,360.62 to Staffordshire County Council for the year, as well as contributions to their district or borough council, police and fire services – and their town or parish council if their area has one. The county council tax bill for residents in the lowest band – A – would be £907.08, while those living in the highest banded properties – H – would fork out £2,721.24.

Cabinet members also considered the authority's Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2021-2026 and its strategic plan at Wednesday's meeting (January 27).

Councillor Mike Sutherland, cabinet member for finance, said: "The latest version of this plan has been shaped by the coronavirus pandemic, an increased focus on climate change, our desire to keep raising aspirations across the whole of Staffordshire and working with Government, businesses and partners to invest in our communities. The pandemic has had a severe impact on finances across the country at all levels.

"Members of the cabinet are not prepared to do things which undermine the medium/long term view which is essential to ensure sustainability as an authority. The financial gap facing this council is caused by circumstances beyond its control, including the economic impact of the pandemic, significant reductions in funding over time and increased demand for services.

"In the next year our priorities remain to create the conditions for the economy in Staffordshire to grow and create more better-paid jobs; support the construction of more homes for Staffordshire families; improve education and skills provision in our schools, colleges and universities; focus on a joined-up approach to health, care and wellbeing; ensure children and families have a network of support to help manage their own problems and remain safe and well.

"We await the Government's response to the challenges facing good and well-run councils across the country and the consequences if extra additional funding is not forthcoming."

The Government's spending announcements made at the end of last year included an additional £4.4m towards social care funding in Staffordshire and an allocation of £16.2m Covid funding for the county council. In addition 75% of lost income from council tax and business rates will be funded, reducing the deficit on collection funds used for budget setting.

Further details of proposed £109m capital spending by the county council in 2021/22 have also been revealed.

Expansions of Coton Green Primary School in Tamworth and Sir Graham Balfour School in Stafford are planned to accommodate rising pupil numbers and are expected to cost around £1.3m in 2021/22.

Other main capital projects include the i54 Western Extension, which will cost £3m next year. This will provide an additional 24 hectares (60 acres) of land to accommodate up to 100,000 square metres of industrial employment floor space.

Staffordshire County Council is also set to spend £7m in 2021/22 on the ongoing Stafford Western Access Route project.

A cabinet report said: "This will provide a strategic link between the north and west of the town, which will help the delivery of thousands of new homes and business, office and retail space. It will also reduce congestion in the town centre, particularly around the railway station.

"There is a total budget (of) £62.8m, funded by a combination of Local Growth Deal monies, Stafford Borough Council, developers and SCC.

"It is envisaged that when the i54 site is fully completed in the coming years, it will have provided some 4,600 jobs in total and will have attracted over £1.1bn of private investment. This is a joint venture with the City of Wolverhampton Council, with a total budget of £38.5m and with partial funding from the Black Country LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Stoke and Staffordshire LEP."

How much tax each household is set to pay to Staffordshire County Council in 2021/22:

Band A: £907.08

Band B: £1,058.26

Band C £1,209.44

Band D: £1,360.62

Band E: £1,662.98

Band F: £1,965.34

Band G: £2,267.70

Band H: £2,721.24