POLITICAL leaders at Cumbria County Council have pushed through a budget which will increase its share of the council tax by 4.6 per cent for the year from April.

Mike Ash, deputy leader of the ruling Conservative/Lib Dem alliance, and budget spokesman, said he was "proud" of the budget despite what he called a "disappointing" settlement from Westminster.

"We think this is the right budget for the county," he said. "We have again had to contend with extra Government spending requirements and a disappointing funding settlement from Westminster.

"We are proud of this budget because we believe it strikes the best possible balance between spending on services and keeping tax increases down to acceptable levels for the people of Cumbria."

The 4.6 per cent increase works out as a rise of £42.86 for a band D household.

Stewart Young, leader of the Labour opposition, claimed under the proposals council tax would have risen by 31 per cent since the Con/Lib Dems took power despite "unprecedented increases" in government support.

"What we see in this budget before us today is the story of the last four years under this administration characterised by high taxes, high spending and poor performance."

CCC received a 6.1 per cent increase on last year's government grant.

This week, Cumbria Police Authority announced a 3.43 per cent increase for its share of the council tax. This translates as a £4.01 increase for an average household in Cumbria.

l Council tax in Eden will rise by four per cent in 2005 to 2006.

The rise was ratified at a meeting of Eden District Council's resources committee last week and the budget set at £7.4 million, which requires the council to take £828,000 from its £5.7 million reserves.

This has prompted calls for a raft of cost-cutting measures, which will be examined by the committee in May.