COUNCILLORS voted on a 5.75 per cent rise in council tax for Pendle after two meetings and a lengthy, heated debate.

In an unprecedented move last week, the special council meeting to set the budget was abandoned after the Liberal Democrats did not table any budget proposals.

Last night Labour proposed a 5.71 per cent rise, the Conservatives proposed a 5.63 per cent increase but then refused to have their proposals discussed and withdrew them. The Lib Dems again declined to table any budget proposals.

During the debate, Lib Dem leader Coun Alan Davies called into question the impartiality of Mayor Coun Colin Waite's chairmanship of the meeting and at least six times was ordered to retake his seat when he tried to interrupt the final vote on the budget.

During the two-and-a-half hour debate, the meeting was twice adjourned to discuss the initial proposal and then to debate an amendment proposed by the Lib Dems which failed when it went to the vote.

The budget, which involves topping up the council's spending power by taking £689,000 from reserves, was described by council leader Azhar Ali as "prudent", but criticised as "fantasy" and a "crisis budget" by the Lib Dems.

Coun Ali said: "This year we have put together a prudent budget, using a three year strategy and leaving substantial resources for future events, which will maintain council jobs and improve services."

He said initiatives being pursued, like spearheading the East Lancashire Councils advances into E-Government, should bring additional resources to the area and to Pendle.

Four amendments were proposed, but only one was accepted which had been moved by the Conservatives, to reinstate proposed spending plans of £1,500 for West Craven for non-highway amenity seating.

The effect of the amendment increased the council tax from Labour's original proposal of 5.71 per cent to 5.75 per cent.

Lib Dems criticised the proposal to take money from reserves, claiming the Labour group was stealing the family silver which it had built up when the council was in Lib Dem control.

Coun Davies also accused Coun Ali of taking credit for successes which had been led by others but refusing to take the blame for failings.

He said the removal of money from reserves was against the District Auditor's advice and could lead to difficulties if the money was later needed for problems which could arise in the next year.

Coun Frank Clifford said if the money was not taken from reserves, as the Lib/Dems proposed, council tax might have to rise by 20 to 21 per cent. He added: "If not there would be a lot of cuts in service."