KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has slammed Labour-ruled Bradford Council's "reckless and short-sighted approach" after it imposed a 1.6 per cent council tax rise.

The Tory MP said the authority had rejected an offer of Government support to freeze the levy.

"Instead it will plunder the pockets of local residents," said Mr Hopkins.

"Not only that, but the level of increase is more than five times the current rate of inflation, which now stands at 0.3 per cent.

"And given that many fewer people pay council tax in the inner-city than in outlying parts of the district, the decision is going to fall more heavily on the shoulders of my constituents."

The former Bradford Council leader added: "Under Conservative control the council was even-handed in how money was distributed across the district, ensuring council tax payers received something back for the money they paid.

"However, under Labour, the council has been shameless in its approach of pouring money into areas dominated by elected members from that party – to the detriment of the rest of the district."

The council tax increase was pushed through during a heated budget meeting at City Hall last Thursday night.

There were shouts from anti-cuts protesters in the public gallery as councillors met to decide how to slash millions of pounds from the authority's budget in 2015/16.

After the meeting, Councillor David Green, leader of the council, said they had made the best of the situation, but added: "It's horrendous for the people that we serve and for the people that work for us."

The increase means the tax bill for a band D property will now stand at £1,351.60, including police and fire service charges.

The decision also finalises a range of cuts, from health services to libraries, totalling more than £34 million.

And the equivalent of 558 full-time jobs in the council are now at risk of redundancy.

Cllr Green, putting forward the Labour proposals, said the council's funding had been cut by more than £160 million since 2011.

He said until this changed, it was "inevitable that we are seeing these cuts hit every community, every group and every part of this district".

But he said his group was pleased to be able to offer all employees the living wage from the autumn, and it was also planning to invest in training for school leaders.

The council's opposition Conservative group put forward an amended budget, which called for council tax to be frozen and for Labour's programme to build four new swimming pools to be scrapped.

More funding would go towards new schools, public toilets in town centres and extending the Growth Zone enterprise scheme to the whole district.

Bingley Rural councillor Simon Cooke, the deputy Conservative leader and its budget spokesman, said there was "no justification" for raising council tax.

Residents in areas with parish or town councils will pay an additional precept. For band D properties it will equate to: Cullingworth £14.03, Denholme £18.33, Harden £15, Haworth/Cross Roads/Stanbury £20.50, Keighley £42.69, Oxenhope £14.60, Silsden £17.14, Steeton £28.75 and Wilsden £24.13.

In South Craven, householders face an increase of about £28 in their council tax.

Craven Council froze its precept levy, but the county council, police and fire and rescue service have all raised their precepts, while town and parishes raised theirs by an average of 4.6 per cent.

It means the average band D householder in Craven will pay a total of £1,584 for the year beginning next month, compared to £1,556 last year.