TAX-PAYERS in the borough of Stockton face another 1.9 per cent rise in their council from April.

The increase was formally approved at a Full Council meeting in Stockton Town Hall at which major Government cut backs to council funding, from £120 million in 2010/11 to £68 million in the coming year, were blamed for the increase.

However at the meeting Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition councillors recommended an alternative proposal to freeze council tax and accept a Government grant which would be the equivalent of a one per cent rise.

That alternative proposal was rejected after councillors heard arguments that it would leave a near £1.4 million shortfall in the budget, the equivalent of having to close the Billingham Forum and Splash leisure centres.

Leader of the Conservative Group, Yarm councillor Ben Houchen, countered that a referendum could be held about any future possible cut in services so the people could decide. He added that tax-payers had faced an increase of two per cent every year since 2011, the equivalent of a ten per cent rise in five years, "at a time when people are having to tighten their belts".

Cllr Houchen was backed by Liberal Democrat leader, Eaglescliffe councillor Maureen Rigg. Cllr Rigg said it had been noticed the council was investing money in buying buildings and investing in major new projects like the new £10 million leisure centre for Ingleby Barwick.

"Our residents say, 'well, if you've got all that money, why are putting council tax up?'", she said.

However the Conservative/LibDem proposal was attacked by not only Labour, but also various Independent groups and Ukip councillor Mark Chatburn.

Cllr Chatburn said after major redundancies by the council and cuts to services it was hard to support a freeze. He said: "I would ask my Conservative and Liberal Democrat friends...which services would you cut by losing £1.38 million each and every year? The fact is we're choosing between bad years and desperate years."

Thornaby Independent leader Steve Walmsley said it would be a false economy to cut back on more services. He said: "Some in here are oblivious to what's happening on the street."

Eventually councillors rejected the Conservative/LibDem alternative by 39 votes to 12 and approved the main budget proposals, again by 39 votes to 12.

Following the result, Bob Cook, Labour leader of the council, said that demands, especially in children's social care, were increasing at the same time as Government cuts. He said: "It was a tough decision but one that we needed to make to help us continue to deliver much valued and needed front-line services and facilities for our residents."

The authority has already laid off 740 workers since 2010 and must make an expected £17m-worth of savings by 2018/19.