TORIES today described as a farce the way Kirklees council tax bills are set.

Their leader Clr Robert Light labelled the annual debate a charade and a waste of time.

He vowed: "We won't play."

A decision is due next Wednesday on how much tax bills will rise, starting in April.

Liberal Democrats - the hung council's biggest party - are proposing a 5% increase.

Clr Light condemned the meeting as "showpiece theatre" and said it was time for a change to the process.

Nit-picking over minor changes was done at the expense of the bigger picture, he claimed.

Clr Light said: "Too many councillors are determined to play-act at being Chancellor for the day and spend hours arguing over small pet schemes which have minimal effect on council tax levels.

"Spending hours debating minor amendments to a budget which everyone knows will be voted down and then cobbling together last-minute changes is no way to sort out the finances of Kirklees."

He called for a new method of setting council tax bills.

Clr Light said: "The council, facing the worst financial crisis in its history, should be looking to make serious long-term changes that would benefit local council taxpayers in future years.

"Kirklees residents will continue to have to face paying large increases unless councillors are prepared to stop playing political games."