PLANS to raise council tax in Ulverston has been slammed as "immoral" by a Conservative councillor during a heated debate.

At a meeting of the Town Council last Monday (15) the ruling Labour group tabled a proposal to raise the council tax precept by three per cent. Cllr Colin Pickthall said he was "pleased" the council's finances were in a good position and the inflationary rise would allow it to "stand still."

He said: "I'm pleased we are in a good position financially. After six years of trying to build up a decent reserve and finance some important projects. We've developed a policy of using ourselves as a lever, as a pump-priming organisation."

Cllr Pickthall added the three per cent rise would see a band D property's council tax increase by £1.17 a year.

This view was shot down by the Conservative group who criticised the rise during times of "austerity."

Cllr Janette Jenkinson said: "I personally believe it is immoral to raise the budget on revenue funding. You may be trying to convince yourselves that is is a modest amount but to spend it on revenue funding is wrong."

Cllr Pickthall said the extra money, "simply allows us to stand still, not go back, finance some new programmes and finish off ones we've started."

He estimated the budget would increase by £5,000 a year if the rise was implemented.

Cllr Dawn Smith voiced her support for the rise, saying: "I would not begrudge a £1.17 increase." However, Cllr Andrew Butcher worried about the strain such an increase could place on cash-poor households. He said "I don't think we should be putting the budget up three per cent when people are going to food banks."

Despite the protestations from the Conservatives the vote to approve the budget increase was passed by eight votes to five.