HYNDBURN borough's Labour group has backed its independent leader's proposed council tax freeze.

It's leader Cllr Munsif Dad made the commitment as its Cabinet meeting on Wednesday discussed the authority's financial position.

He told political boss Cllr Miles Parkinson who leads the council with Conservative group support: "We back the nought per cent increase because it it the right thing to do."

Cllr Parkinson said the freeze for 2023/24 was possible because of the growth in the borough's economy.

Cllr Dad said after the meeting: "Having learnt that the Conservative run Lancashire County Council and Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner intend to increase their proportion of council tax, the Hyndburn Labour group have committed to a nought per cent tax increase on the borough's share.

"This is to reflect the cost of living crisis many Hyndburn residents are facing.

"This is despite the council facing a challenging environment due to a rising cost in operations as well as government grant funding being significantly lower than a decade ago.

"The Hyndburn Labour budget proposals will also aim to empower residents to be part of the decisions to improve their area.

"The Labour proposals will continue to look at how the council can innovatively work with partners and residents to implement effective green initiatives."

Cllr Parkinson old the meeting: "Hyndburn's economy is growing at almost double the national average.

"Latest government figures reveal a 13 per cent expansion in Hyndburn's rateable value of business premises since 2017.

"It shows strong leadership and delivery to get growth of 13.2 per cent in Hyndburn when the average in England is 7.3 per cent.

"To have growth of 26 per cent in industry is an amazing figure and shows the council is really developing what is really important to create jobs.

"The decline in population has stopped - we have got a small increase in that.

"Due to this income being generated through the council tax base, we are setting a nought per cent council tax increase because that is how we plan for growth.

"Hyndburn has been able to do this due to strong management of finance over the past two with a further six-figure underspend forecast by the end of the financial year.

"We continue to strive to keep household bills low. We have delivered for our residents in hard times through Covid and we are now supporting them through the cost of living crisis."