LABOUR councillors have voted to raise council tax by the highest increase possible without triggering a local referendum, ignoring Tory and Lib Dem calls for a tax freeze.

Knowing an increase of two per cent or more would force a costly countywide vote on the issue, Durham County Council’s ruling Labour group used its large majority to push through a 1.99 per cent tax hike today (Wednesday, February 25).

The change will mean council services cost 78p extra per week for Band D householders and 33p extra per week for the majority, Band A householders.

The authority’s 2015-16 budget also includes cuts of £16.3m, taking the total since 2011 beyond £150m.

Conservative Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had challenged local authorities to freeze council tax, offering Durham a grant worth £2.18m to do so.

Tory and Lib Dem councillors backed the call, as did more than 500 people in an online petition.

However, Labour said freezing council tax for several years until 2014 had cost the authority around £7m and doing so this year, even with the grant offer, would leave a £1.2m shortfall.

Tories suggested filling that by axing the council magazine County Durham News and reducing the contingency budget.

Lib Dems suggested the council’s inflation figures were too high. They also called for more school repairs and £18m to be spent on improving roads and pavements, paid for by cutting staffing costs.

Labour leader Simon Henig said the budget continued to protect frontline services “as best we can”, protected the vulnerable, included a “Durham living wage” pay guarantee and, by using £9m from reserves, dispelled the Government “myth” councils were building up vast treasure troves.

Residents of County Durham and Darlington will also pay 1.98 per cent more for their police force and 1.95 per cent more for their fire brigade.