OPPOSITION councillors hit out at spending on ‘vanity’ projects such as Blackburn’s new cinema during a debate on a proposed rise in households’ council tax by at least £52.70 a year.

The finance council at Blackburn with Darwen Council met on Monday night to discuss the plan which could see a 3.99 per cent tax rise imposed by the authority – 1.99 per cent for general services then two per cent ringfenced for adult social care.

The council tax plan for the total 3.99 per cent rise was given the green light.

The total council tax bill for Band A terraced homes which make up the majority of the borough’s housing stock will rise by £52.70 a year, or £1.01 a week, to £1,287.62 for the 12 months from April 1.

Cllr Colin Rigby referred to schemes such as the ongoing multi-million pound regeneration of Blackburn's Blakey Moor including an eight-screen Reel Cinema, which he said was ‘behind schedule and was over costs’.

He also spoke about the council's plan to buy the former Thwaites Brewery site for redevelopment.

He said: “These are vanity projects, such as the cinema. We have provided the land and financed it yet the cinema are taking the profits which does not make business sense.

“Then there is the old Thwaites site, which I fear will end up being like the old outdoor market ­— it is out of the town centre.

“They want some sort of shopping there but it is not going to be easily accessible.”

Cllr Rigby added that ‘any investor looking at Blackburn with Darwen (to invest) and carrying out due diligence will look elsewhere’.

However Cllr Phil Riley, the council’s regeneration boss, refuted the claims and said: “The Labour group takes the council’s placemaking responsibilities very seriously.

“The so-called vanity projects will be keystones in the new Blackburn town centre as it develops out of the pandemic.

“The Tory view simply shows them to be small minded on what the people in the town really want.”

A report to the meeting also said the council would look to increase receipts by disposing of more land and property for commercial and housing development - rising from £2,358,000 to £5,052,000.

But Cllr Rigby said: “Housing proposes considerable expansion over the next 20 years, yet I understand that we have approximately 2,400 empty properties right now.

“Looking at the figures that should concern us all. We have 7,500 cases claiming housing benefit at a cost of £37.8 million, 16,000 cases of people claiming council tax support at a cost of £12.7million, 14,700 cases claiming single person discount at a cost of £7.48million.

"These figures will only increase with council tax increasing as people cannot afford to pay.

"It does not give a picture of a prosperous borough.”

Cllr Vicky McGurk, the council’s finance boss, said her first year in the role had been a ‘baptism of fire’ due to pressures of coronavirus.

She said: “Central Government urgently need to increase the overall funding provided in the core spending power calculations to allow councils in England to mitigate the impact on local council taxpayers.

“Each year at finance council, the elected members of this council are required to set a legal budget for the revenue funded services that the council provides.

"This year the Conservative government have advised and expect councils to raise their council tax by the full amount of 4.99 per cent.

“This rise as outlined is unjust and unfair. Therefore to set the legal balanced budget, whilst maintaining current levels of services to the people of this borough, and ensuring residents have the minimal impact to their pockets, we are seeking that members of the council approve a rise of 3.99 per cent.”

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr McGurk responded to opposition claims and said she was ‘extremely disappointed’ they did not provide an alternative solution or budget at the meeting.