A Tory bid to cut Staffordshire County Council’s council tax rise from four to 2.5 per cent has failed.

Councillors voted 30-23 against amending the budget of £433.9 million to deliver the lower rate.

The members of the Liberal Democrat group abstained on the vote. 

Leader of the Labour-controlled council Councillor John Taylor, pictured, said the four per cent increase was the lowest increase in 13 years and would mean a rise of £37.90 – 73p a week – for a Band D property. 

“Our aim was to set a good and balanced budget and I believe the budget presented today meets that aim,” he said. “It has been shaped in the light of consultation feedback and I’d like to thank those people who took part in the consultation exercises, which proved to be very valuable.” 

The Labour group plans to keep the 2009-2010 rise down to 3.5 per cent and 2010-11 to three per cent.

Tory group leader Councillor Philip Atkins said the council tax paid by Band D payers has almost doubled, rising from £481.13 in 1997-1998 to £947.54 this year.

“Council tax payers have had to pay almost double for less services,” he claimed.

But Councillor Taylor said over the last 12 months services had improved and £22 million in savings had been found for the new budget. Councillor Atkins said the low increase was because of county elections next year and because of a big increase in Government grant to the authority which otherwise would have meant an eight per cent increase. His deputy Councillor Ian Parry proposed the amendment to the budget and said that the Conservative group was committed to increases of 2.5 per cent for the next three years if it took power in next year’s election. 

He proposed making savings of £7.5m through efficiency and innovation and ploughing £1.5m into road maintenance and road safety schemes, £1m into schools and reducing anti-social behaviour and £1m into funding more community support officers. 

Cabinet member for healthier communities and older people Councillor Susan Woodward claimed that adult care services would be cut if the Tory proposals were implemented. 

Councillor John O’Leary said the Tory suggestions for cutbacks were “very vague”. 

Councillor Parry said there would be no cuts and it would ensure the right level of resources were provided to deliver effective services.

* People living in the Creswell parish in Stafford will pay the highest council tax rates in the borough in 2008-2009. A full meeting of Stafford Borough Council next Thursday will be recommended to approve the final council tax bills for the area. The council has set a 3.9 per cent level for its increase with the county council setting four per cent. The average Band D tax payer will pay a total of £1,420.18.