The leader of Northumberland County Council has refused to rule out a big increase in council tax payments for the county's residents - but insisted his administration will do everything to avoid doing so.
Coun Glen Sanderson's comments came ahead of the council's budget meeting next month, which will set the rate residents have to pay for the coming year.
In November, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a new maximum increase in council tax of 4.99% without a referendum as part of his autumn statement.
