OPPOSITION councillors will today propose a reduction in the council tax hike facing County Durham residents.

Labour-run Durham County Council is meeting to approve a 14.8 per cent rise agreed last week by its cabinet.

But Liberal Democrats will propose an amendment that would see bills rise by 13.8 per cent.

They say the council could shave one per cent off the rise - equivalent to a £4.70 saving for Band A tax payers - by cutting just over £1m from the council's budget.

The money would be saved from funds allocated for councillors' computers and e-mail, and a forward spending programme in social services.

Group leader, Councillor Nigel Martin said the plans would not hit front-line servic-es used by vulnerable people.

"Councillors must take some of the knock on what it spent on themselves. We will put back the roll out of councillors' IT provision by nine months and so have £100,000 in the coming financial year.

"How can we ask the council tax payers of County Durham to fork out so much, while not looking to ourselves in this process?''

The council's ruling Labour group has blamed the funding formula used by the Government for a big rise being needed.

Coun Martin echoed that, saying: "County Durham is paying for a funding formula which penalises Labour heartlands in the North in favour of Scotland and the South of England. This is Labour's stealth tax on the people of County Durham."