Council tax in Brent will rise by nearly two per cent in order to make improvements in children's services.
Residents in an average Band D property will have to pay just under £1,370 next year after the budget was set at a council meeting yesterday.
In the coming 12 months the Liberal Democrat-led administration will spend more than £1 million on child protection, £100,000 on new books for libraries and more than £650,000 on developing sports facilities.
But deputy leader of Brent's Labour Group, Councillor Muhammad Butt, is not convinced and believes the low council tax increase will lead to a series of inflation busting increases in fees and charges especially targeted at the elderly, disabled and motorists.
He said: "The Lib Dems conned the people of Brent when they said they would freeze the council tax, provide free personal care for the elderly and a new deal for motorists. In fact they have increased the council tax by several times the rate of inflation and clobbered the elderly and disabled, motorists and virtually every other service with massive increases in charges. The fact is that Lib Dem councils cost you more."
Council tax payers in Brent also have to fund the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept, which covers the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Transport for London and other services.
Brent is actually raising its part of the council tax by 2.5 per cent but because the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, decided to freeze the GLA section the overall rise is 1.9 per cent.
Speaking after the budget Councillor Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat Leader of Brent Council, said: "We are proposing the lowest increase for a decade while continuing to invest and improve our services. We have continued to direct the council's resources towards our key priorities of regeneration, young people, sustainability and fighting crime.
"We faced a difficult decision this year - the council tax rise could have been lower. However, given the extra pressure children's services are facing this year we decided to improve and invest in the child protection services we provide.
"I am simply not prepared to compromise the safety of Brent's children. For the first time young people have a clear voice and I am proud to lead a council which places young people at the heart of its vision."
