Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Councillor Tim Pickstone said:

“With this 6% council tax rise (actually 6.35% when you include the increases from Andy Burnham) Bury’s Labour Council have put Council Tax up a shocking 17% in three years.

At the same time they were asking Councillors to vote for cuts to jobs, services and care for vulnerable people totalling £32 million over three years – with precious little detail on what those cuts are.

They may be happy to to treat local residents like this, but we are not and we voted against this budget.”

The Liberal Democrat Group proposed an alternative budget which included an extra £10 million to fix roads and potholes which are in a terrible state. The borrowing was funded by savings from the amount paid out by the council in compensation claims for poor road surfaces.

They also proposed £500,000 to kickstart the Prestwich Town Centre Challenge to regenerate the village centre of Prestwich.

“We were bitterly disappointed that every single Labour and Conservative councillor voted against these sensible proposals. Our roads are in a terrible state and to vote against investment is a disgrace.”