LIVERPOOL'S council tax is set to rise by just the rate of inflation - with more money being spent on services for the most vulnerable.

The proposed budget, which will see an increase of 2.9 percent in the cost of the council's services, includes £7 million of additional spending on social services for children and adults. It will mean additional resources for home care and recruiting a pool of foster carers.

Around £800,000 extra will be spent on street cleansing and environmental services to make sure the whole city is sparkling for Capital of Culture year.

And a total of £1 million will be used to set up the new Liverpool PLC inward investment agency and create a subvention fund for the new arena and convention centre at the Kings Dock so it can attract the best conferences. The measures will help create employment and wealth for the city and exploit its tourism potential to ensure a lasting legacy beyond Capital of Culture year in 2008.

Lib Dem Council leader Warren Bradley said: "Despite one of the worst grant settlements in the country we have managed to put together a budget which allows for extra spending on the most vulnerable.

"We have also found additional money to make sure the city looks the best for its year on the global stage as European Capital of Culture.

"And we are investing in the future by setting up Liverpool PLC, which will help attract businesses, investors and employment to Liverpool.

"Frontline services are being protected and there will be no impact on any of our leisure centres and libraries because we recognise they are valuable community resources. 

"It is a major achievement for the city council to be able to keep the rise so low when other council's that have received a far better settlement are struggling.

The free leisure passes scheme for under 17s which was launched last April is being continued. It has led to a massive increase in the number of youngsters using Lifestyles swimming pools, gyms and sports pitches.

And people wanting to go green by fitting solar panels to their houses will no longer have to pay a fee for submitting a planning application. 

Efficiencies will come from saving money on transport costs and streamlining the council's management structure through natural wastage. 

Councillor Keith Turner, Lib Dem executive member for resources, said: "We are continuing our record of keeping bills as low as possible while at the same time improving services. Overall, bills have risen by an average of just one percent per year since 1998 compared to seven percent 
across the rest of the country.

"We will be keeping a very close eye on spending, monitoring every budget line and cost centre to ensure that the savings can be achieved. 

"Work has already started on the medium term financial plan. By early summer we will present our plans on how we will pay for Capital of Culture without affecting frontline service delivery."

When the levies set by the waste disposal authority and Merseytravel - which are beyond the control of the city council - are taken into account, the overall rise in bills is 3.7 percent. This compares to an average of 4.2 percent across the rest of the country.

Voting Labour would cost you at least £747 extra 

Labour Leader Joe Anderson boasted to the Daily Post that Labour “would have made the Council £126 Million RICHER” by  putting up YOUR Council Tax!

That would mean Labour Councillors taking an extra £747 out of YOUR pocket!

 To make matters worse, in the past 12 months Labour councillors have made future promises worth at least £20million - but won't say where the money is coming from!

 On March 7th the Council met to vote for the Lib Dem budget, traditionally this is when opposition parties draw up their alternative plans - but yet again didn't bother.

You have to wonder, have they got nothing to say or something to hide? 

...Fortunately, the Lib Dems keep on saving you money

• Liverpool no longer highest taxed

(not even in the top 100 highest taxing Council’s)

• Saving YOU money by cutting Labour’s Waste

(£120Million of your money that Labour poured down the drain)

• Even Labour admit services have improved

(and there’s record investment in local services)

Don’t let labour take us back to the bad old days