BLACKPOOL Council has pledged to keep tax increases down in future after agreeing an 8.7 per cent hike for next year.

Rumours that this year's increase could be smaller than expected because of last minute pressure from Government circulated in the hours leading up to the council's budget meeting last night (Wednesday).

But council leader, Cllr Roy Fisher, brought forward a budget only slightly reduced from the predicted figure of 8.9 per cent released two weeks ago and pledged to keep next year's increase between four and five per cent next year.

Cllr Fisher said: "This is a sound and ambitious budget for now and the future which I am proud to move.

Conservative leader, Cllr Peter Callow, attacked the 'spendthrift' Labour regime and warned that if the council went over budget next year by as much as it has this its reserves would be wiped out.

Liberal Democrat leader, Cllr Robert Wynne, praised Cllr Fisher for not folding to pressure from Government to reduce tax levels because that could only be achieved by cuts in vital services.

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The meeting is available to view on the council's website, www.blackpool.gov.uk.