A CAMPAIGN has gone viral challenging Somerset Council plans to raise council tax bills by 11 per cent, a move which would typically require a public referendum.

Government rules mean any council wanting to raise the tax by five per cent or more must put the decision to a local ballot, giving residents the final say.

However, Liberal Democrat-run Somerset has applied for a third successive year to the Government asking for ‘exceptional financial support’ (EFS).

The EFS mechanism would allow the council to by-pass the tax rise cap and impose a double-digit rise without a public vote.

Exmoor farmer and Conservative South West Rural Forum chairman James Wright, who launched the campaign, said if approved, an 11 per cent increase would see the average band D household bill rise by about £203 a year.

It follows a 7.5 per cent increase last year, again through EFS, which Mr Wright said meant residents faced a cumulative rise of about 18.5 per cent in just two years.

A video posted online by Mrs Wright to explain how the ‘referendum loophole’ worked has sparked a backlash and has been viewed nearly 50,000 times since Monday.

Hundreds of residents have since signed an open letter to council leader Cllr Bill Revans demanding the application for special dispensation be withdrawn and for any tax rise above the legal cap to be put to a democratic vote.

Mr Wright said, “The reaction to the video shows that people are not just angry about the money, they are angry about being shut out of the process.

“By applying for exceptional financial support, the council is effectively using a backdoor to by-pass local democracy.

“Residents are being asked to pay a ‘failure premium’ to cover for millions spent on agency staff and consultants, but they are being denied their legal right to vote on it.”