The proposal by Dudley Council’s controlling Labour group to increase council tax by 4.99 per cent has been defeated by opposition parties - by just one vote.

In a lively debate at Dudley Council house last night, UKIP and Conservative councillors instead voted in favour of a 3.99% rise; a motion which was passed.

Labour argued that the increase was needed due to a lack of government funding, but Conservative councillor Steve Clark accused Labour of “smoke and mirrors politics” and pointed to the huge amount spent on consultancy fees.

Labour group leader Councillor Pete Lowe responded by saying the Tories were chasing cheap headlines, and stated that council tax is historically low in Dudley.