CUMBRIA’S county councillors have agreed to raise their portion of the council tax bill by 1.9 per cent - the lowest in the authority’s history.

The Conservative and Labour led administration have also set aside more than £12.2 million to repair roads and bridges damaged by the floods and freezing weather this winter The County Council’s precept makes up a quarter of the overall council tax bill received by residents of Cumbria and the rise equates to around £21.90 a year for a Band D property.

Stewart Young, deputy leader of Cumbria County Council and the leader of the Labour group, said: “This has been one of the most challenging budgets the council has had to produce. We have had to respond to some of the worst weather conditions Cumbria has ever seen while still ensuring sufficient funding for our vital services.

“We have also had to ensure that we do not impose an unacceptably high council tax increase at a time when the county is emerging from recession and many families are struggling financially.

“This is a budget for recovery which helps to rebuild Cumbria, while protecting our services and investing in our future,” he said.

However the budget was attacked by Liberal Democrat Leader Ian Stewart who claimed there were hidden cuts.

“We need to be open and honest with the public and tell them, yes, there is a need to cut back and this is how we are going to do it,” he said. “Unfortunately, that is not what we have here. To use a slightly hackneyed phrase, what we have is a budget of smoke and mirrors.”