HOW can Suffolk County Council keep its council tax rise down to 4.5 per cent this year without cutting services or jobs? Why didn't it change the way it operated years ago?These are the questions being asked today by householders across the county – and by local government minister Nick Raynsford after he was alerted by The Evening Star's Cap the Tax campaign.

By Paul Geater

HOW can Suffolk County Council keep its council tax rise down to 4.5 per cent this year without

cutting services or jobs?

Why didn't it change the way it operated years ago?

These are the questions being asked today by householders across the county – and by local

government minister Nick Raynsford after he was alerted by The Evening Star's Cap the Tax

campaign.

Our campaign against extortionate council tax rises led the government to force Suffolk County Council to keep down this year's rise, it emerged today.

Suffolk was one of 31 councils across the country to get letters from Mr Raynsford warning its rise could be capped if it tried to increase bills by more than 5pc.

Today, it emerged that Mr Raynsford had sent the letter to council leader Bryony Rudkin after reading press reports the council was considering a rise of between 6pc and 8pc.

HOW PUBLIC OPINION FORCED THE COUNCIL'S HAND – SEE YOUR STAR TONIGHT