COUNCIL chiefs have agreed a 3.99 per cent tax rise as they set their budget for 2020-21.

Those plans for Trafford include a two per cent precept to pay for adult and children’s social care services.

An overall budget gap of £18.5million will be met by using £4.47 million from reserves, income generation of £6.12 million; £3.98 million from additional government funding grants, and £3.98 million from invest-to-save measures.

Labour councillors insisted “austerity” had failed and councils had faced average cuts of 60 per cent from central government.

But Conservatives accused the ruling group of doing nothing to assist local residents with their plans.

Liberal Democrats praised Labour for “producing a budget at all in these challenging times”.

This year’s budget includes a £15.4 million investment in early intervention for both adult and children’s social care. The money will be pumped into early help and intense family support which the authority hopes will save it money further down the line by helping people before they reach crisis point.

The budget also sees more funding being pumped into schools, with £15 million to be spent on school buildings. Other grants and funding have also been provided by central Government.

As part of a Conservative group amendment, which gained cross-party support, 14 CCTV cameras will also be installed throughout the borough, as well as more than 150 electric vehicle charging points. This is expected to cost around £60,000.

Cllr Andrew Western, council leader, said he was proud his party had avoided cuts to front-line services and avoided job losses in the budget.

He said: "We have to make difficult decisions. This budget is revolutionary and most welcome. I could not be prouder."

Cllr Patrick Myers, deputy Conservative leader, said: "This budget does nothing to support residents, nothing to replace trees and nothing to address the climate emergency."