COUNCIL tax payers are facing a two per cent increase in their bills despite reservations about the "abhorrent" imposition of the adult social care levy.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council approved the decision at a special budget meeting today (Tues, March 1) when the Labour group's spending proposals were overwhelmingly supported following a 90 minute debate.

The group, which doesn't have enough members for an overall majority, were supported by opposition Liberal Democrat councillors, who agreed to the levy with a "heavy heart".

Setting out the proposals, Cllr Chris Massey, the cabinet member for resources, said freezing the council tax while implementing the social care levy with the fairest budget for all.

However, several opposition members called for a rethink claiming many of the borough's residents are already suffering financial hardship.

Liberal democrat group leader, Cllr Josh Mason said: "I think the adult social care levy is an abhorrent policy from central government. I think central government should be providing care for our ageing population."

Independent councillor Steve Kay said the levy was a council tax increase in all but name.

"We we are doing is using the social care levy, indirectly, to balance the books," he said. "It is being used surreptitiously to balance the books and that's totally wrong."

And former council leader Cllr Mary Lanigan said people in her Loftus ward are already struggling financially without the extra burden of the social care levy.

She said: "A we are doing is hitting the people on the street and it's not acceptable - we are here to protect them."

Conservative group leader, Cllr Valerie Halton opposed the budget and turned on her own party for forcing local authorities to shoulder the burden of adult social care.

"We believe that central government should pay for social care, we believe that is fair," she said.

"However, we don't believe that you have to impose the levy - we disagree with the government on that. There is another way, there's a lot of waste in this council and we should look at that first."

However, Council leader Sue Jeffrey rejected the claim, saying: "There isn't a great deal of fat left to cut out of this budget. We have been doing it for the last six years."

She added: "This Government have made it clear that cash to fund the additional cost of care for the growing number of vulnerable older people in our Borough must be raised locally. This means we have not been able to avoid the "Adult Social Care Precept", this is a levy of 2 per cent of our Council Tax base."

In a named vote the budget was passed by 39 votes to 16 with one abstention.