Suffolk County Council's opposition councillors will put forward a higher council tax increase than proposed in the budget to fund eco-friendly minibuses and slower speed limits.

The Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group of councillors at Suffolk County Council has announced they will put the public and environmental health initiatives to full council this Thursday.

They will propose the schemes are paid for by increasing council tax by 4.88 per cent rather than the 3.99 per cent uplift in the planned budget for next year.

The opposition group will suggest putting the extra £3.362 million this will make towards a lower speed limit in residential areas, more sustainable community transport and hiring a new officer dedicated to reducing the council's carbon emissions.

Speaking about the speed limit initiative, Robert Lindsay, deputy leader of the group, said: "Our residents are crying out for safer speeds in their villages and neighbourhoods.

"Across Suffolk 1,463 people were injured in road traffic accidents in 2018. That's about four every day and the majority were within 30mph speed limits.

"Currently the default speed for villages and towns is 30mph and communities have to jump through endless hoops for safer speed limits.

"We want to switch that around and make the default 20mph for residential areas apart from some exceptions where higher limits need to be retained."

The opposition group expects a pilot of 20mph in residential areas will cost £1 million from the £3.362 million pot to be created from the proposed higher council tax uplift.

The minibus initiative would put another £1 million from the pot towards a new electric fleet of minibuses to be used by residents in rural areas.

Opposition Cllr Keith Welham said: "Nothing has been done since we were hit by such severe cuts to our bus services.

"There is an urgent need to provide for the transport needs of our many residents in rural areas who have no car, or for those who would prefer to use public transport as a carbon-friendly alternative."

Suffolk County Council's annual budget for community transport has fallen from £1,214,574 in 2016 to £764,256 this year.

The opposition group will also call for a carbon budget officer to be hired by the council at Thursday's meeting. This person would be responsible for ensuring the council meets net zero carbon by 2030.

Cllr Andrew Stringer, leader of the opposition group, said: "In 2019, the Conservatives at Suffolk County Council made a promise to be a leader in the county's ambition to achieving to net zero.

"The current annual carbon budget shows that currently we are falling short on that leadership.

"SCC has most of the levers at our disposal. Now is the time to be bold in our ambition, and even bolder in delivering the financial and environmental benefits of achieving net zero."

The council's report into carbon emitted by the council showed forecasts of 17,136 tonnes of carbon in 2030, and explains more action will be needed to reach net zero.

The opposition group's council tax suggestions would see band D property owners paying 25p a week more than under the county council's current proposals.