CHESHIRE East Council is set to freeze council tax for the next two years despite reductions in government grants.


The council’s budget was passed at the council meeting in Sandbach on Thursday, February 26, with council leader Michael Jones claiming it to be the best in the north west.


Cllr Jones said: “This is the best budget in the North West and one of the strongest in the UK.


“We don’t just want to freeze council tax for a fifth consecutive year next year, we want to keep people’s bills at their current level until 2017.


“Cheshire East Council is demonstrating once again how local authorities can cut costs via innovative ways of working and a listening approach that puts residents first.”


The Cheshire East Band D Council Tax will now remain unchanged at £1,216.34 after a vote on the budget was passed with 42 councillors voting in favour, eight against and 18 choosing not to cast a vote.


Despite only eight councillors voting against the budget, it came under heavy criticism from opposition councillors.


Cllr Sam Corcoran, member of the Labour group, said: “Last year in my budget speech I quoted your pithy comment that the budget was long on words and short on figures. That is true again this year.


“Councillors, we should also be protecting our greenfields, our emblem is a wheatsheaf not a concrete mixer.


“The budget recognises that the Local Plan is critical, but there is no mention of any money. Yes Mr Mayor, long on words and short on figures.”