Plans to hike council tax and charge more for parking, among other changes, have left some councillors “completely shocked”.

A draft of Medway Council’s budget for the upcoming financial year intends to focus on raising revenue and making services more efficient, rather than making cuts to balance the books.

The increases include an additional 60p on parking across all on and off-street parking and a maximum increase to council tax without a referendum - 4.99%.

Councillors and members of the public have been airing their views on the proposals, with some criticising the changes.

The Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce took particular issue with a recommendation in the budget papers which would give councillors a 50% discount for memberships at sports centres.

In a post he made to a community Facebook group, he said: “Despite cutting free swimming for children and pensioners last year, [the Labour administration] are now proposing to give all councillors 50% and 25% off membership/entry fees at Medway Council sports centres!

Following several posts, and annoyed comments from residents, council leader Vince Maple commented to say the cabinet would not be supporting the proposed discount when it comes to cabinet tomorrow (February 11).

Cllr Pearce claimed he and support from the public forced a U-turn from the council.

He continued: “Although this U-turn is welcomed, it calls into question the lack of judgement shown by the Labour administration, especially when they are also proposing to significantly increase fees, charges and council tax for residents.”

The discount had been recommended by the employment matters committee and would give both Medway Council staff and councillors 50% off for annual individual premier memberships and 25% off annual family and joint memberships to Medway leisure centres.

The Labour group has confirmed they will not support the discount for councillors, but will for the authority’s staff, saying it is part of trying to retain existing staff and attracting agency staff to join the council.

The Medway Tories’ leader, Cllr George Perfect, said his group was shocked by the budget, another increase to council tax, and the projections about the long-term finances of Medway Council.

He said: “We've got yet again, another 4.99% rise in council tax. We've got fees and charges going up across Medway, in some cases, up to three or four times what inflation is, and for some of the services to businesses, even more.

“We're completely, completely shocked by the budget, which shows year on year by the end of the decade, there will be a £50 million budget gap by the end of the decade in the revenue budget, which is significantly concerning.

“We were told by the leader of the council, Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister and others, that by electing a Labour government, it would bring financial security and sustainability to the council.

“From the figures we've seen, it's actually got significantly worse since the new government took over. £2 million worth of unfunded national insurance contributions on top of what is already a significant 5% pay rise for staff. So, we are deeply concerned by the numbers outlined in the draft budget.”

In response to Cllr Perfect comment’s Cllr Maple said: “I will be sure to pass on the shock of increasing council tax by the referendum limit and increasing fees and charges to his Conservative colleagues in Kent, who are also having to increase their council tax by 4.99% and looking to raise a further £23.5m income from increases to fees and charges.

“Despite the challenges we face, this year we are receiving the biggest funding increase in decades from a Labour Government which understands local authorities like ours have been left to struggle for too long.”

Responses from residents online were mixed, with some understanding the situation the council was in financially.

Forde Ferguson said: “The people are nearly bankrupt. How does charging more on top of huge taxes we already pay help us? Income is fixed for many while outlay goes up every week.”

Dave Dunmall said: “The damage the Tories did in 14 years is going to take a lot of sorting. People blame Labour - ridiculous. Medway Council was almost bankrupted by the Tories.”

Jack Kelly said: “Most councils are doing very much the same, there is no end in sight to the doom and gloom.”

However, some said the increase in charges would just backfire on the council.

Carol Onley said: “That makes financial sense - NOT - you up the prices and nobody will use the sports centres or go into town so they’ll get even less money than they are now.”

Mollie Grant said: “So fed up of the councillors targeting ‘soft targets’ such as drivers. You say you want to become financially sustainable - you need to look a bit closer to home at some of the poor financial decisions that have been made.

“I appreciate some not by this particular Labour Council but how much is the White Elephant that is the Pentagon Centre costing us, the public? How much are you spending on buying and planting trees?

“The constant allowance of ‘emergency’ road closures/roadworks on the same patch of roads is astounding.

“The ridiculous amount of time the same potholes open up - whoever you’re using to fill them in clearly don’t represent value for money.

“Come on Vince Maple and team you should do much, much better for us…”

The budget will be discussed by Medway Council’s cabinet tomorrow (February 11) before being considered by all councillors on February 27.