Cheshire West and Chester Council has confirmed a two-year council tax freeze.

Recommendations not to raise the tax for this financial year – and to suggest the same for the following year - were backed at the budget meeting on Monday.

The decision means the standard Band D council tax rate for 2014-15 will remain unchanged at £1,275.

Councillor Les Ford, executive member for resources, said: “This budget continues the same themes as previous years of continuing to reduce waste, inefficient practices and bureaucracy.

"Yet it seeks to innovate and develop new ways of delivering and improving services to our residents, at a much reduced cost. “

But opposition members claimed proposals unfairly affected the most vulnerable members of society.

Councillor Ben Powell, opposition spokesman for finance, said the budget would see children’s centres across the borough facing closure and communities left at risk because of cuts to CCTV and community safety budgets.

The budget was supported by 37 votes to 31, with two abstentions.

Wirral Council agreed to freeze the tax for two years at its budget meeting in February.

Liverpool City Council is meeting today, Wednesday, to set its budget.