THE MAYOR of Middlesbrough is to meet a government minister to push the case for the town to receive a higher revenue support grant in order to avoid a rise in council tax.

The town has received a settlement of only 3.8 per cent on last year's grant, leaving the town facing a £6m shortfall.

At a full meeting of Middlesbrough Council last week, the Mayor revealed that ratepayers faced a 15 per cent increase to meet the shortfall.

He insisted that the council would do all in its power to stop this from happening.

The figure given to the town is less than the eight per cent of that awarded to nearby councils in Darlington and Redcar and Cleveland.

Following representations by the council, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed to a meeting.

Mr Mallon said: "We are grateful to the Minister for agreeing to the meeting. We believe we have a good case for a fairer settlement and welcome the opportunity to discuss this face to face."

Mr Mallon and head of finance at Middlesbrough Council, Paul Slocombe, will travel to London today to meet Barbara Roche, the Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality, to make representations on Middlesbrough's behalf.

The move also comes after it was revealed council taxpayers could be about £23 a month worse off because of the need to invest more in the town's social services.