County council chiefs have defended proposals to increase council tax charges - following a weekend newspaper survey suggesting at least 30 Conservative authorities are likely to increase bills in 2015/16.

A Freedom of Information survey of all 353 English councils -  to which 262 authorities responded - found 116 authorities were prepared to accept the government's offer to freeze levies in 2015/16, while four hoped to reduce council tax bills.

Some 60 councils, including nearly half England's 27 county councils, planned to increase council tax charges below the 2% threshold for triggering a referendum.