A CLEANING hit squad to target the borough's 'grot-spots' costing £35,000 was just one of a number of new schemes approved at Hyndburn Council's budget meeting last night.

Other schemes included money for Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, improvements to the borough's playgrounds and a new skatepark in Great Harwood.

The new spending amounts to £270,400 in a total budget of just under £12million, funded with money from central government, businesses and a rise in the council's portion of the council tax of 4.9 per cent.

With increases in the county council and police portions of the council tax, the bill for a band A house in Hyndburn will rise from £732.21 to £800.92 -- an increase of 9.38 per cent.

The cabinet's list of proposals include £61,200 for Area Councils (each receiving a minimum of £9,000) and £159,000 for recycling and cleaning.

Others include £10,000 to pilot postal voting at the next election, £29,200 for a new council overview and scrutiny officer, £10,000 to maintain Council buildings and £1,000 towards helping new businesses.

Leader Jean Battle said the borough's increase was a result of consulting residents at a series of roadshows in the borough throughout January.

"We have been out and about in the community and this budget is a direct result of listening to, and acting on, residents' views. This budget was formulated with our key aims of a cleaner, greener borough very much in mind.

"We are also confirming our commitment to the area councils, where local people are making local decisions about issues that matter to them."

But opposition leader Coun Peter Britcliffe said the cleaner, greener message was ill-thought out and a rushed clean-up before the next election, that the people of Hyndburn are having to pay for.

"The more I hear about a cleaner, greener borough, the more I think it seems to be a spring clean that the Labour group are doing at the first whiff of an election."

And although he welcomed the minimum £9,000 for area councils he believed that some areas like Oswaldtwistle should get more because they have more people living there.