AN East Lancashire local authority has voted to increase its share of the council tax by 1.99 per cent.

The proposed rise in Burnley will add £6.09 to the annual bill for a semi-detached Band D family home and £4.06 a year to that of the Band A terraced houses which make up most of the borough’s housing stock.

The full borough council voted for the rise proposed by the Labour leadership on Wednesday night and rejected a Conservative amendment to ring fence part of the budget.

Rossendale Council has also announced it intention to increase its council tax by 1.99 per cent.

Lancashire County Council has agreed to impose a 3.99 per cent increase in its extra levy or 'precept' for its services including education and adult social care provided to both boroughs. This makes up the majority of household bills. There are also addition charges for the police and fire service.

Cllr Sue Graham, Burnley Council's finance boss, said: "We have to squeeze what we can out of the limited funds available to us.

"We have taken a cautious approach but we have to plan for a future after the pandemic."

Cllr Maggie Lishman, her Liberal Democrat predecessor under the previous coalition administration, said: "The proposed rise in council tax of 1.99 per cent is unwelcome but necessary.

"It is critical for the future of our town that our council does everything we possibly can to drive Burnley’s economic and community recovery."

Rossendale Council leader Cllr Alyson Barnes said: “The underfunding we have had to endure over the past 11 years from central government always make budget decisions incredibly tough. If you add Covid into the mix, we were left with little choice but to increase the council tax.

“That being said the increase only amounts to around an average of 11 pence a week for most Rossendale residents.”