WIRRAL Council this week increases house tax by 6.9 per cent, almost three times the rate of inflation and the highest rise on Merseyside.

At the start of the council's Budget meeting, Mayor Margaret Green warned people in the public gallery to remain quiet during debate.

Leader of the Labour-controlled council, Coun Dave Jackson, said it was a budget for the future. There was more than £3m additional money for education, plus £2m more for social services.

Both the Tories and Lib Dems presented their own budgets but stood no chance when it came to voting against the Labour majority.

Coun Jackson slammed the Tories' three budgets as they ranged from 2.4 per cent to the same amount of 6.9 per cent put through by his own party.

Councillors from each of the three parties stood up in support of their budgets, watched by a small but loud group in the public gallery.

In a meeting full of banter, Wallasey Conservative councillors Lesley Rennie and Kate Wood claimed not enough was being spent in Wallasey. Labour's education chairman, Coun Mick Groves, responded that millions of pounds had just gone into two Wallasey schools. "Money is not only going into Labour wards, particularly when it comes to education."

Another Labour stalwart, Coun Paul Whitter, added: "The Tories can't decide on one budget but have three. Which one are you talking about?"

Lib Dem councillor Tom Harney commented on the "fantasy budgets of the Tories". Colleague Mrs Pat Williams seconded the Lib Dem budget while Conservative Jeff Green backed the Tory budget, saying Labour were serial taxers.

When it came to voting on the Tory budgets it was 16 for and 45 against, while the Lib Dems lost by 9 for and 51 against.

At the close of the meeting, councillors wished Geoff Barnes, on the press bench, a happy retirement.

The new council tax bands are: A. £651; B. £759; C. £868; D. £977; E. £1,194; F. £1,411; G. £1,628; H. £1,954.

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