AN East Lancashire local authority has frozen its council tax after a fierce row about the contents of its budget.

The decision was taken after a four hour meeting of Hyndburn Council at Accrington Town Hall.

Borough leader and Independent Cllr Miles Parkinson said the nil increase is the charge for borough services a 'remarkable' tribute to the management of town hall finances.

But his Labour group opposite number Cllr Munsif Dad condemned the budget as 'the last dream of a leader who has stayed too long'.

The vote on Thursday night - in which Labour abstained - means that Hyndburn's element of the council tax bill for 2023/24 will remain at £173.76 for a Band A terraced house and £260.64 for a typical Band D semi-detached family home.

Including the levies for Lancashire County Council, police and fire services the main bill without the Altham Parish Council precept will be £1,446.05 for Band a properties and £2,169.07 for Band D ones.

Cllr Parkinson, who spent 45 minutes outlining government investment in the borough through 'Levelling Up' and other grants revealed the council had now bought Burton's Chambers as part of its £23million Accrington Town Centre Investment Plan and submitted a planning application for its new leisure complex on Wilson's Playing Fields in Clayton-le-Moors.

He said: “This proposed budget for 23/24 illustrates the remarkable position we are in.

"Not only does it highlight the incoming millions we have secured, in excess of £50million, it illustrates the success we have found with strong partnership working.

"Through working collaboratively with business leaders and the MP, combined with strong financial management over decades we have positioned Hyndburn well for the future.

"This future growth and prosperity will transform Hyndburn and perfectly leads us on to celebrations for not only the King’s coronation this year, but Hyndburn’s golden celebrations the following year.

"In 2024 Hyndburn will be 50 years old and I am pleased to confirm will be starting those celebrations with an unprecedented amount of funding.”

Cllr Dad said the incoming government grants were less than half of what the council had lost during 14 years of Conservative government-led austerity and would do little to alleviate the 'horrible hurt and pain people are facing every day' because of the cost of living crisis.

He proposes a series of amendments to the budget including £25,000 for bringing in the 'Love Clean Street' app, £17,000 for two community clean up days a year in every ward, £25,000 for a feasibility study into a new relief road from the M65 Junction 7 to Great Harwood, £43,000 for the recruitment of an additional dog warden, £51,000 for the creation of two new green apprentices to maintain council electric vehicles and £175,000 to create new Green Spaces Community Hubs.

Cllr Dad said the proposals had been certified a costed and deliverable by borough finance officers and were ready to be implemented when 'Labour wins power in May's local elections'.

All were voted down,

Cllr Dad said Labour supported the council tax freeze.

Conservative group boss and deputy leader of the Independent/Tory partnership running the council Cllr Marlene Haworth said: "We should all be singing from the rooftops about this budget and the amount of money the government has given us."