Members of Suffolk County Council meet today to set their council tax level for 2018/19 – and are expected to confirm a total take of 4.99%.

This will be made up of 2.99% on basic council tax and 2% for the council’s social care budget. The rise is the largest since the notorious 18.5% increase in 2003 – but is in line with the increase most other counties are making.

The budget has already been approved by the council’s cabinet and with a healthy majority in the council chamber, the Conservative administration is not expecting to face many problems when the budget is debated this afternoon.

The county council element makes up about 70% of most council tax bills with the remainder being elements for district/borough councils, the police and crime commissioner, and – in most of the county – parish and town councils.

The final council tax bills will be agreed by districts and boroughs later this month and will be sent out in April.