HOUSEHOLDERS have been promised a maximum 3% council tax rise – and pensioners would again get a rebate under the proposals.

Kirklees Council leader Clr Robert Light unveiled his tax plans yesterday.

Bills would go up 3% for the second year running, but homeowners aged 65 and over would again receive a discount.

Councillors will decide on council tax for 2008-9 at the annual budget meeting in February.

Clr Light believes the Conservative administration of the hung council is spending more prudently than other parties did in the past.

He said: “Both Labour and the Lib Dems inflicted high council tax rises on residents when they were in charge. But that has all changed, Kirklees under Conservative control has a stable medium-term financial plan which sets out a way to keep council tax increases at 3%.”

And Kirklees would again offer a 3% rebate to pensioners who don’t receive council tax benefit.

Clr Light said: “This year we became the first council in the country to introduce a discount for householders aged over 65.

“Around 90% of those eligible – some 18,355 people – took up the scheme, which was well above our expectations.

“The average reduction in their bills was around £30.”

Clr Light said services wouldn’t suffer.

He said: “The Audit Commission recently ranked Kirklees the second top performing council in the country. A key element of that achievement was our sound financial management, while ensuring at the same time that people receive top-quality services.

“That strategy remains the same. The Cabinet is confident our long-term financial planning will maintain and improve services.”

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan accused Clr Light of re-announcing a decision which was made months ago.

Clr Khan said: “This is nothing new. Clr Light is attempting to spin the news by re-announcing the 3% council tax rise as a new decision.

“At the budget meeting in February the whole council agreed to a 3% council tax rise for three years.

“Kirklees is required by law to produce a three-year financial plan. This document, which is available for anyone to read, states that the council tax will rise by no more than 3%.”

Clr Khan added that his party would monitor Tory spending plans.

He said: “Labour councillors will scrutinise Conservative plans to ensure that public services have not been cut.”

Lib Dem leader Clr Kath Pinnock also pledged to keep a close eye on the books. She said: “Last year came the shock of the proposal to close three nurseries in Huddersfield, so until I’ve seen the plans in detail I won’t know if there are any hidden cuts.”

She added the Conservatives should be clear on their plans for the future.

She said: “If your only ambition is to keep council tax increases at 3% that’s fine, but don’t pretend you’re trying to improve people’s lives.”