MOST people in the South West would be willing to pay more in council tax or one-off levies to help fund better local services, a new report has claimed.

Polling carried out YouGov for Localis found that more than two-thirds (71 per cent) of people living in the region would be willing to pay more for public health work with fire and adult social care services the next highest priorities.

In terms of one-off voluntary levies, the report reveals that most people would be willing to contribute for services for older people, the homeless and for pothole repairs.

Local authorities are required to hold referendums if they are proposing a rise of more than two per cent to bills but government legislation has enabled councils to charge additional ring-fenced precepts which do not contribute to the limit.

Localis’ interim chief executive, Jonathan Werran, called for councils to be given greater freedom to collect council tax.

“The agenda for improving local services and policy outcomes will fail if the agenda focuses solely on people paying more tax,” he said.

“Councils need greater fiscal flexibilities through the government either raising precept caps significantly or by outright abolishing laws for triggering council tax referendums.”

However, the leader of Bournemouth council, Cllr John Beesley, said that such measures would be “unsustainable”.

‘’In my view there is a very fine line when it comes to raising additional council tax over and above the existing maximum permitted levels in order to help fund local services,” he said.

“This is especially true in times of austerity and difficult economic conditions for many local residents.

“That is why we froze council tax in Bournemouth for five years in a row, prior to being expected by government to change course.

“However, some commentators support the introduction of additional precepts to council tax, or even the removal of the cap on council tax rises, although I do not agree with either approach.

“In my view, neither option is a sustainable solution to the long-term funding issues that local authorities are facing in providing demand led services, especially those in adults’ and children’s social care.”

The survey found that people in the South West are more willing to pay extra council tax for public health, libraries and parks and open spaces when compared to the national average but are less willing in terms of funding nurseries, public transport and social housing.