AN amendment to freeze council tax instead of go-ahead with a planned rise was thrown out by Bromsgrove councillors at the latest full meeting of the authority.

Leader of the opposition Labour group, Councillor Luke Mallett, called for a freeze of the tax at its current rate after it was revealed the authority had been able to top up its balances, putting £600,000 into unallocated reserves at year end.

At the meeting, held at the Council House on Wednesday, (September 24), Labour councillor Peter McDonald was one of those to support the proposal in the chamber, which was presented as an amendment.

He said council tax had increased to the maximum of two per cent in the past two years, during a period of the worst austerity since before the Second World War.

Cllr Mallett said: "People thought if they voted for the Conservatives, they thought they would look after their money.

"This council is in a dire state."

Responding, Councillor Mike Webb, portfolio holder for finance, said they had kept council tax as low as possible.

Cllr Webb said: "We have made savings - the public are pleased we have made savings."

He went on to say a council tax freeze would have a knock on effect as the money would be lost to the authority over several years.

He added he thought it was disrespectful to present the proposal to the chamber without any information.

A vote was taken and the amendment was defeated on a vote of 18 to 13.

After the meeting Cllr Mallett told the Advertiser he was "dumbfounded" the Conservative group voted unanimously against a tax freeze.

He said: “The council is now holding several million in the general balances.

"It is difficult to see how the Conservative leadership can justify another tax rise, as services and staff are being cut.

“These funds from ongoing council tax hikes are not being spent to protect services or keep council staff in Bromsgrove, they are sitting in the bank."

Bromsgrove District Council leader Margaret Sherrey said: "A freeze means if you don't put it up that year what do you do the next year - double it?

"There is a knock on effect - it is about pre-planning.

"We understand some people are sceptical but you have to look after public money. "