PENDLE residents are set to pay more council tax after the hike was voted through by borough councillors.

The rise of between and £3.33 and £5 a year was approved at meeting on Thursday night.

Two Conservative councillors and former Labour representative turned independent Cllr Nawaz Ahmed did not attend the budget meeting and the BNP’s Brian Parker backed the ruling coalition's 2.04 per cent rise.

This prevented the potential deadlock on the vote on council tax meaning the basic rate for the 61.6 per cent of Band A homes in the borough before town and parish council precepts rose from £1,0978.50 annually to £1,135.23.

This figure includes the precepts raised to pay for Lancashire County Council, police and fire services in 2017/2018 and takes effect from Saturday, April 1.

The equivalent rate for Band D semi-detached homes rises from £1,647.74 a year to £1,702.85 a year.

Tory leader Cllr Joe Cooney proposed a ‘radical’ alternative budget to the Labour/Liberal Democrat ruling coalition's proposal with a zero rise in Pendle’s element of council tax using more cash from reserve this year and outsourcing services in 2018/19.

He said the 2.04 per cent increase was ‘short-term’ politics as the expense of future stability for council finances.

The coalition’s Labour leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal said: “The Conservative budget proposal was not radical but reckless.”

Turning to Cllr Nawaz Ahmed’s defection from his party following Cllr Nadeem Ahmed’s decision to leave the LibDems to join the opposition group, he said: “I am baffled that having spent so much time luring councillors away from coalition parties, the Tories could not turn out their own representatives for the year’s most important meeting.”

LibDem deputy leader of the council Cllr Tony Greaves said: “I am surprised the Conservatives could not turn out their troops for the budget vote.

“Their proposals show that they are scoundrels.”

Cllr Cooney said a change in the date of the budget meeting prevented councillors Lyle Davy and Steve Petty from attending.

The extra precepts for towns and parishes on Band D properties include: Barnoldswick £69.07; Barrowford 65.33; Blacko £30.27; Brierfield: £60.23 ; Colne £85.39: Earby £108; Foulridge £36.55 and Laneshaw Bridge £69.95.