THE most vulnerable members of society are to be hit by a shameful whammy of "stealth taxes" in East Dorset at a time when the council still spends more than £80,000 a year on supplying employees with leased company cars, a councillor has said.

East Dorset District councillor Janet Dover said she and other Lib Dems were very disappointed that a recent meeting decided that from April, the over-60s who get free bus travel would be restricted to travelling after 9.30am.

Cuts are also believed to be on the way as councillors on Monday are being recommended to scrap the free black bags given out to every household for refuse.

In addition, Cllr Dover said the forthcoming council tax bill would probably rise again and the national press was predicting that fuel bills would soar.

"Up until April the 60s-plus get the concessionary bus pass and can use the bus at any time of the day. The district council has decided they don't want them to use it prior to 9.30am.

"This will save £16,000 a year. I think the people who use the bus - 50 people a day prior to 9.30 in the morning - go to the doctor, the hospital, and some people with learning disabilities use it to go to the centres. The most vulnerable people in our community use the bus. They do not have any other form of transport."

Cllr Dover said many people had not realised the council was also considering no longer supplying homes with black bin bags.

And she said the cut was the equivalent of adding £6 a year on to the council tax bill as people would have to supply their own bags as no other option such as a return to houses having old-fashioned bins or the introduction of wheelie bins was being considered.

She added "It does seem to me that it is penalising those people in our community that are the least able to cope with it."

"I think people don't know because they have not published it yet. It's another charge on people on limited incomes."

Alan Breakwell, chief executive of East Dorset District Council, said: "East Dorset District Council's net annual payment for lease cars in the financial year 2006/07 was £83,300.

"Historically, the benefit of a lease car was used to help recruit and retain the best candidates to positions with East Dorset.

"This recruitment method has now been phased out, but officers who accepted a post on this basis continue to be entitled to this benefit."