COUNCILLORS have voted for a reduction in council tax for the first time in Redcar and Cleveland’s history.

The one per cent drop was the idea of the newly created Independent and Liberal Democrat coalition, which was set up after Labour lost control of the borough council when several members quit the party following an internal power struggle.

Today (Tuesday, March 3), the council’s budget setting meeting was dogged by ill feeling as Labour group leader Sue Jeffrey tabled an amendment proposing a two year council tax freeze.

Some of the remaining members of the Labour group clashed with ousted former colleagues including the previous council leader George Dunning.

Cllr Mrs Jeffrey called on members to support her motion instead of backing the proposal to reduce council tax.

“There is no doubt that this has been done to get votes from the electorate,” she said. “This is coming from an administration which won’t be in power in May.”

Independent councillor Steve Kay, who is the cabinet member for highways, planning and transport, rejected the motion, saying: “I think this is the chance to make history by reducing the council tax for the first time in living memory – what an achievement that would be.”

Conservative councillor Valerie Halton said the Labour group had done a U-turn over previous years’ budget proposals.

“It was possible to freeze it three years running but you didn’t vote for it,” she said. “I can’t believe that you are now suggesting a freeze and pretending to be supporting poor people, when previously you were toeing the party line.”

Cllr Ian Jeffrey criticised the coalition opposition proposal claiming the one per cent cut would come at the expense 20 jobs at the authority - a claim dismissed by Cllr Chris Abbott, who is the cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure, as nonsense.

The amendment to freeze the council tax was defeated by 34 votes to 16.

Speaking on the original proposal, Council leader Mary Lanigan said: “It is not about party politics, it’s about what’s going on out there. The police and fire brigade have put up their precept, when they didn’t have to. We are trying to help everybody – can you not see that?”

Cllr Tristan Learoyd, who is cabinet member for housing and neighbourhood renewal, told the meeting that he intended to vote against the coalition proposal despite being a member of it.

He said: “I have always stood by my convictions and would vote for an illegal budget if it was what I believed to be right.”

The proposal to cut council tax by one per cent was passed with 29 votes in favour, two votes against and 18 abstentions.