Council tax will rise for the fourth year in a row.

In its draft organisation plan and budget for 2019/20 Essex County Council outlines plans to hike council tax by 3.99 per cent.

The annual county council bill for a band 'D' property in Essex would rise £1,270.44, a weekly increase of £0.94.

If approved, this will be the fourth year in a row council tax has increased, following half a decade without a single rise and a five per cent bump in 2018.

The rise is designed to fund a long list of desires including funding for 1,066 new primary and 2,198 new secondary school places – the equivalent of five new schools and including those for pupils with special educational needs and disability.

In total, £117m will be spent next year on maintaining and improving the road network and £14m on faster broadband connections, with 40 new homes built including eight for people with learning disabilities through Essex Housing.

The increase comes a year before the council's central support grant is phased out entirely, adding to the increased burden of inflation, population growth and increasing demand for services.

Of te, 3.99 per cent, 1 per cent would be ring-fenced to adult social care from the Government's social care precept allowance, with the remaining 2.99 per cent supporting the delivery of other services.

Leader Cllr David Finch said: “Essex prides itself on being innovative, dynamic and entrepreneurial. We are go getting – we have one of the highest business start-up rates in the country. People expect the same from their council.

“If we don't find ways of doing things differently, if we don't innovate, we won't succeed. The challenges of ever-increasing costs and demand are real. Austerity might be over, but its effects are still with us.

“This budget is about making the right decisions, in the right way, so we are investing now for Essex's future prosperity. We have a track record of rolling up our sleeves and getting things done. We've saved over £1million a week, every week, over the past four years. Our track record speaks for itself, as does our willingness to innovate, be enterprising, entrepreneurial and embrace internet-age opportunities."

The Council's Cabinet will meet to approve the proposals on January 22 before they go to full council for final approval on February 12.