Battle lines have been drawn as factions on Wiltshire Council look set to argue over how care for vulnerable people in Wiltshire should be administered.

The Conservative-controlled council has outlined its proposals for the coming budget, which include various cuts to the services provided.

Among them are plans to stop funding parish elections, reduce litter collection services and cut grants for elderly lunch clubs.

At the same time, council tax will rise 4.99 per cent - consisting of a 2.99 per cent increase for general spending and a 2 per cent levy ringfenced for adult social care.

If agreed at Full Council on February 21, this will mean an increase of £1.57 per week of the Wiltshire Council element of the council tax for households in the average Band D property.

But the Liberal Democrat and Labour wings of the council are submitting proposals, largely with a view to alleviating the pressures on those most in need in the county.

The Liberal Democrats are pushing for big changes, including reversing charges for blue badge holders to park in council-owned car parks, waiving council tax for those struggling most and reinstating funding for elderly lunch clubs.

Charges for blue badge holders have applied in Wiltshire Council car parks since September last year, scrapping these charges will mean the council has to find £40,000 from somewhere else.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ian Thorn opposed the charges when they were brought in and said: “It is particularly cruel to levy charges on disabled Blue Badge holders who need to drive into towns to stock up on supplies.”

There are also plans to waive the entirety of the council tax for people most struggling financially.

This would cost £650,000 and would apply from May.

The proposal is to use £350,000 to support households in receipt of council tax relief where there is a balance of council tax to be paid to apply an additional £25 discretionary relief.

And to use £300,000 to fund further council tax relief for households with the most pressed individuals and families hit by the cost-of-living crisis.

Elderly lunch club and learning disability friendship groups will no longer receive grants under the latest budget plans.

The Liberal Democrats want to reinstate that funding at a cost of £106,000.

Cllr Thorn said previously on lunch club funding: “It is a massive mistake to take away grants that help so many of the people who we should be supporting as a society.”

The last proposal is to pay the rent for Citizens Advice Wiltshire, which is being charged £18,000 by the council to rent a council office.

Councillor Gavin Grant said: “This is the wrong approach, and we want to fund the rent.”

On top of these amendments, Labour leader Ricky Rogers wants to reduce the rent increase planned for those in council houses this year from seven per cent to five per cent.

He said: “For the average three-bedroom house in my division a seven per cent rise means paying an extra £8 to £10 a week on top of the tax increase. This is the families that can least afford it.”

Council leader Richard Clewer said he was going to wait until the debate on February 21 to respond to the amendments.

He has said previously in response to criticism of the decision to cut funding to lunch clubs and friendship clubs: “We’ve been in contact with clubs since the change was agreed last year and we’re happy to talk to any clubs about the new model and other options available to them.

"They can also apply to area boards through the health and wellbeing funding for one-off support, and I would urge them to consider that.”