Blackburn with Darwen Council's political leader has said his authority will consider increasing its council tax by almost five per cent, as his counterpart in Hyndburn confirmed he will freeze it.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, said his all-purpose Labour-controlled council had little choice but to look at the option opened up by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn Statement last month,as the Government's financial settlement will be based off an assumption council tax will go up by the maximum amount.

Mr Hunt said councils would be able to put up council tax by 4.99 per cent next Spring without the need for a local referendum, up from the previous limit of 2.99 per cent, as the Tories look to cut central Government spending amid spiralling inflation and the cost of living crisis.

Cllr Riley's comments followed former Labour turned Independent Cllr Miles Parkinson telling Hyndburn Council's cabinet on Wednesday that his promise of a zero per cent rise in April still stood.

He also revealed the authority was providing an extra £235,000 to Hyndburn Leisure to peg its charges until March 31.

Already Conservative-controlled Lancashire County Council - which provides key services including education, adult and children's social care and highways to Hyndburn, Burnley, Ribble Valley, Pendle and Rossendale districts - has warned it will 'carefully consider' whether to make use of permission to increase council tax by up to five per cent next year

Currently the largest rise permissible without a referendum is 1.99 per cent plus a further one per cent 'precept' ringfenced specifically for social care in those authorities - including Blackburn with Darwen - which provide it.

Cllr Parkinson, who leads and administration of Independents and Conservatives, told senior councillors at the meeting: "We will not be increasing council tax by five per cent.

"As we have already said we will be setting the council tax at zero per cent.

"We are mindful of the impact of the cost of living crisis on our residents.

"The council will also be giving Hyndburn Leisure an extra £235,000 to freeze it charges from now until April."

His Labour opposition counterpart Cllr Munsif Dad welcomed the moves.

Cllr Riley said: "Blackburn with Darwen will of course be looking at increasing the council tax by five per cent.

"It is inevitable that we should do so as the government's financial settlement will assume that we make that rise.

"We will consider it in the context of the impact of the cost of living crisis on our residents."

Opposition Conservative finance spokesman Cllr Jon Baldwin said: "Our group would oppose such a large rise with the increases in energy prices and mortgage rates."

Blackburn with Darwen Council will set its council tax rate for 2023/24 at its Finance Council meeting on February 27 after the government announces is financial settlement for local authorities expected before Christmas.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: "The provisional local government settlement is expected mid-December.

"We will then present the budget to the Executive on February 13. The council tax resolution will also go to Full Council on February."

A Ribble Valley Council spokeswoman said: "A special policy and finance committee will meet on February 14 and make a recommendation to full council on March 7, when the council tax will officially be set."

Rossendale Council leader Cllr Alyson Barnes: "We have not reached any conclusions yet."

A Pendle Council spokeswoman said: "Our council tax setting meeting is in February and it's too early to say either way at the moment."