RESIDENTS will be paying nearly three per cent more on their council tax as the county council makes savings and cuts of more than £11m.

Services in Lancashire are due to be cut after the councillors approved the budget for 2018-19 at a meeting.

As part of the budget, the full council agreed that council tax should be increased by 2.99 per cent, plus a three per cent increase specifically for adult social care.

The Labour group said the budget showed years of government cuts are 'taking their toll' and that the Conservatives are the 'party of high taxes'. 

Cllr Azhar Ali, leader of the Labour group on Lancashire County Council, said: "I believe this is one of the highest council tax increases for decades in Lancashire.

"The Conservative-led county council administration has to face it that years of Tory government cuts are taking their toll.

"But they don't have the bottle to ask for money from government.

"This budget shows they're the party of high taxes."

But county councillor Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said it is 'committed to providing the best services it can to the people of Lancashire, particularly to the most vulnerable in our communities.'

Cllr Driver said: "However the council's financial position remains extremely challenging, with a forecasted funding gap of £144.084 in 2021/22.

"This has meant that tough decisions have had to be made to balance the books. This is not unique to Lancashire and many other local authorities are also having to make hard choices.

"I am pleased though that we have been able to make many improvements over the past year, including reopening libraries and supporting bus services in the county.

"The council also plans to spend a further £5m next year on road repairs, something which we know is important to the county's residents and businesses.

"We are working very hard with our staff to ensure that we can continue to provide vital services for people, and we have put in an extra £25m for vulnerable adults and children to ensure the safeguarding of those members of society."

Planned cuts include £1.25m from children and family wellbeing services, and cutting £1.026m from the budget for learning, disability and autism residential reviews.

Other savings could see £280,000 cut from library book and e and audio book funding and nearly £400,000 from community transport services.

There are also proposals to increase charges for elderly and disabled NoW card holders which would see concessionary fares for those travelling by bus before 9.30am doubled from 50p to £1 - saving £87,000.