One of the most controversial proposals in last week’s budget was the decision to reduce council tax support for those on low incomes.

People who receive working age council tax reductions will now pay 15 per cent as opposed to having the tax subsidised.

This is estimated to bring in £900,000 for the council over the next three years.

Council leader Cllr Jas Athwal said this was one of the many difficult decisions his administration had to make in the wake of central government funding cuts of 52pc.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Ian Bond agreed with Cllr Athwal that Labour had a hard job, but said his party could not support a budget which would reduce council tax benefit on “the most vulnerable”.

He explained: “This is a council tax increase of 200pc on mostly working residents and that is wrong.

“I do believe it will be a false economy as the administration costs of collecting it with bailiffs will be more than the amount of money gained.”