MINISTERS have been slammed as council bosses admit increased tax bills for residents will merely act as a 'sticking plaster' instead of 'bridging the gap' in social care funding.

Following permission from the Government, the authority will be allowed to raise tax by an extra six per cent in the next two years – three per cent in 2017-18 and three per cent in 2018-19.

If it chooses to raise the rate by three per cent next year, in addition to the current two per cent cap, it would rise by £62.67, taking it to £1,316.15, which amounts to just over £1.20 a week.

A further five per cent hike the year after would add £65.80, taking it to £1,381.95 – slightly more than £1.26 a week.

Residents could therefore be footing an extra charge of £128.47 in the next two years.

Proposals will come before the executive board on February 13 before being put to a vote at full council on February 27.

Council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill confirmed discussions are ongoing – but he also criticised figures at Westminster.

He said: "Even if we raise council tax it will not bridge the gap – it is just a sticking plaster.

"Last year we had to raise it because of the £5 million hole in social care – but that only created around £1.6 million, so it did not even touch the surface.

"We are looking at all the options available to us.

"What I can't understand is how educated people, which I presume ministers and civil servants are, can't see the link between social care and the NHS crisis that we are in at the minute.

"People can't get to the doctors or get care in their own homes – it is bound to have an impact on A&E."

Cllr Russ Bowden, who is in charge of the budget, also hit out at the Government over social care.

He said: "The extra resources will basically be a sticking plaster and not a big one – it should be funded nationally and done properly."

During Monday night's executive board meeting at the Town Hall members were told that the council's health scrutiny committee will refuse to support planned £909 million cuts to health services in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The executive board agreed 'not to endorse' the proposed sustainability and transformation plan, which could see the opening hours at Warrington Hospital's A&E department reduced.

The health scrutiny committee has requested the NHS to develop 'firm and clear proposals' for an 'accountable care organisation' in the town.