TAXPAYERS in Lincolnshire could soon get the right to veto inflation-busting council tax rises under plans put forward by the Government.

And residents say they will use the powers to prevent a repeat of the likes of Lincolnshire Police Authority's attempted 78.9 per cent precept rise in 2008.

But the county's councils say they are not worried by the plans, which could peg any increase in precepts to only 3.4 per cent, saying they had been keeping increases to low levels anyway.

Lincoln resident David Coomber, 74, said he doubted anyone would be likely to vote for an above-inflation rise in the current economic climate.

He said: "None of us likes paying out money and if I was asked to vote now my answer would be emphatically no.

"And most people are going to say no because their image of the council is all gold-plated pensions and so on.

"They need to put their own house in order before they ask for more money.

"When they are down to the bare bones – like residents are – then they can try and put forward a case for more funds and people might think 'well we don't want to pay but we're going to have to'."

Yet council chiefs say they are not surprised by the proposal – and even if rises are capped at about the rate of inflation, they have not asked for a figure that large in recent times.

Alan Thomas, assistant chief executive of North Kesteven District Council, said it would not cause the authority any hardship.

He said: "For the current financial year the council tax rise was 1.76 per cent – which was below inflation – and the forecast for the next two years are for maximum increases of 2 per cent.

"And given the outcome of consultation with residents before setting the current council tax rate, we are sure that they will support modest growth."

Darren Grice, leader of the City Of Lincoln Council, said he would be interested to see the details of the new proposals, and of course would be taking them into account when setting next year's council tax rate in March.

He said: "When we set the level of council tax each year we have always taken into consideration government guidelines.

"And we also ensure that we consult with our residents to seek their views on the proposed level.

"Council tax capping has been in place for a number of years now and we have never breached the caps set."

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said it was great news local taxpayers could be given the final say over whether council tax hikes are acceptable.

"With council tax rates almost doubled over the last decade and too much money being wasted on bloated bureaucracies in town halls across the country, campaigners would use this new power to stop further impositions on overtaxed British families."