COUNCIL tax in Blackburn with Darwen will rise again as bosses pleaded for certainty over the future of local government funding.

Blackburn with Darwen Council’s portion of the precept will rise by 1.99 per cent for 2020/21 as members voted to pass the rise and next year’s budget at last night’s finance council meeting.

And a further 2 per cent increase will be imposed to be used solely to fund social care services over the next year.

Bosses are tasked with plugging a £5.7 million funding gap over the next year and council finance chief Louise Mattinson said reserves were getting dangerously low.

She told members the council had the 5th lowest amount of cash in reserves of any unitary authority in the country.

The £201m budget for 2020/21 will be funded by £66m from Government, £56m from council tax, £21.3m from business rates and £58m from a variety of other sources.

Conservative group leaders criticised the ruling Labour group for not thinking outside the box and suggested looking to privatise more services as a way of saving money.

Executive member for finance and governance, Cllr Vicky McGurk, said: "Blackburn with Darwen has seen an unprecedented impact from austerity.

"We have seen the biggest reduction in spending power of all unitary authorities.

"This budget is a way for us to keep our heads above water.

"It's not as simple as saying live within your means when the demand for statutory services outweigh our means."

Conservative group leader, Cllr John Slater, said: "Austerity was needed and it has worked.

"It's the people of this borough we are here to serve. I would do things differently.

"It's about how we deliver services and how the money is spent. The Conservative group has identified how we can save at least £1.8 million."

"This budget is an opportunity missed."

Borough growth and development boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said: "Austerity was introduced as a political decision made by the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats at their heels that has enabled them to start to run down the state.

"Whether you think that has been a success or not, the infrastructure of the country is in a far worse state and that's evident for anyone to see."

Chief executive Denise Park said: "Since 2010, the Council has had to make cuts of over £140m.

"Budgets are incredibly tight and every service continues to have to find ways to contribute to the shortfall at the same time as dealing with increases in demand and rising costs.

"Council tax in Blackburn with Darwen will remain the second lowest in Lancashire even though financial pressures continue.

"Elected members agreed at Finance Council for a general increase of 1.99%.

"Government also expects us to add a further 2 per cent to be used solely for social care services.

"This will mean an increase of 78p a week for a Band A and £1.16 for a Band D council tax payer.

"There is a strong commitment to improving prosperity for all and running good quality services every day.

"We are working with others right across the region and speaking to Government as we look at future funding for places like ours, looking at every opportunity to attract funding and investment to the borough and build relationships that bring benefit directly back to Blackburn with Darwen.

"There are no easy answers, however people across the borough continue to volunteer and help keep services running and improve their neighbourhoods, which we all truly value and appreciate.

"Community centres, branch libraries, bowling greens and other leisure facilities are now being run by volunteers and community organisations.

"It’s difficult to quantify how much we’ve saved through volunteering, but those volunteers and organisations

are delivering services on the ground far beyond what the council could have achieved on its own."