Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council are urging the Labour bosses to accept a grant of over £1 million from the Government in exchange for keeping Council Tax frozen.

The Labour administration looks set to increase Council Tax for residents by 1.994%, the highest rise they can get away with without triggering a referendum of local people.

Lib Dems think the Council should take the grant, which is equivalent to a 1% Council Tax increase, and freeze Council Tax. Savings could be made by cutting the use of consultants in the Council, cutting the communications budget, use of reserves and a real war on waste.

Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale said:

“There is no justification for putting Council Tax up when the Government is offering over £1 million to freeze it.

“In 2012 Labour gave Redcar & Cleveland the biggest Council Tax increase in the country. It’s time hard-working residents in our borough had a break.

“Ed Miliband talks about tackling the cost of living, so let’s see Labour practise what their Leader preaches.”