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Local Liberal Democrats are calling for more collaboration and transparency on the Council, rather than conflict. The call was made during the debate on the Council's budget last Monday.

The farce of an acrimonious shouting match between the Tories and Labour, with the meeting suspended, and a councillor walking out, was the result of a 'spoof' amendment put forward by Labour. This highlights the need for more cooperation and better conduct in Council meetings.

Last night's Council meeting to pass the budget for the coming year descended into farce.

Two Labour councillors proposed a spoof amendment to the budget based on a document which had not been circulated beforehand. This purported to show cuts the Council would have to make if Conservative promises from the May 2021 Local Elections - to freeze Council Tax and eliminate the Council's "debt" - were kept.

The Liberal Democrats are proposing a £15 cost of living rebate to tens of thousands of council tax payers in bands A to D to soften the blow of the council tax increase. They will formally propose this at Monday's Budget Council meeting.

Finance Spokesperson Cllr Ian Marks says: As a result of Government policies, the impact of COVID, the aftermath of Brexit and world events, we are all facing inflation rates that have not been seen for 30 years. These increases will disproportionately affect the less well off in our town. There are 77,648 homes in Bands A to D so a one-off £15 rebate would cost £1.16m. We are proposing this extra £1m is taken from reserves. Excluding the social care precept increase of 1%, our proposal for a Warrington cost-of-living rebate halves the impact of this year's Council Tax increase on households living in Band A to D properties.

The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Council Leader to resign because he has allowed the reputation of a well-run Council to be destroyed.

The call came at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council that took place to discuss the investment in Together Energy and the overall investment strategy.

Group Leader Cllr Bob Barr said: I wish the advice from my Group that investing in Together Energy was too risky, had been heeded. I wish that Together had not collapsed - a collapse triggered in part at by irresponsible meddling in the energy market by the Conservative Government. We don't know what the outcome will be.