PLANS to hit council taxpayers with a five per cent rise have been dramatically ditched.

Householders will instead pay an increase of 3.1 per cent, after councillors gave their backing to last-minute alterations.

The rise means bills for people living in Band A houses will go up by around £22 to £744.64, and by £33 to £1,116.96 for Band D homes.

Members of the full council were informed of the new figures ahead of a vote at Wednesday evening's (Feb 25) special budget meeting.

But Tory members claimed they had been "wrong footed" and labelled the cut a "gimmick" ahead of elections for the entire council in spring.

But Labour members said that the cuts had been delivered through the use of reserve funds, income from council shares in Manchester Airport and additional service efficiency savings.

Councillor Wayne Campbell, executive member for resources, said: "What this means is that one of the worst funded authorities in the country has still delivered the second lowest council tax increase in Greater Manchester.

"The main reason we have been able do this is that Bury Council is lean, mean and keen."

Coun Campbell also made a promise that next year's council tax would be no higher than five per cent.

He said: "After this meeting we will start looking again at the services that we provide, the cost of those services and how we can drive them down."

Council leader John Byrne said: "This is a council that is prudent, uses the money properly and that will deliver the most cost effective services of any in the country."

The move halted a Tory amendment to have the original 5 per cent increase cut to 3 per cent.

Conservative group leader Roy Walker claimed opposition parties had been purposely misled.

"We didn't know what you were proposing until an hour ago.

"It may be very clever to change it at the last minute and to wrong foot us, but it's not democratic or helpful to debate," he said.

"We worked on the assumption, in good faith, that you were going to put it up by five per cent."

He added: "It's interesting that all out elections this year have concentrated your minds on this reduction."

A revised Tory amendment, demanding a lower increase of two per cent be achieved by slashing consultancy, staff and advertising costs, was defeated.

An amendment from the Liberal Democrats, requesting extra cash for recycling, social services and area boards, was also voted down.

What you will have to pay. Last year's figures in brackets

Band A: £744.64 (£722.39)

Band B: £868.75 (£842.79)

Band C: £992.86 (£963.19)

Band D: £1116.96 (£1083.59)

Band E: £1365.18 (£1324.39)

Band F: £1613.39 (£1565.18)

Band G: £1861.60 (£1805.98)

Band H: £2233.93 (£2167.18)