PENDLE councillors have agreed their budget for 2012/13 and have slashed some controversial plans to cut services.
It means council offices will stay open in Brierfield and Earby, the Discover Pendle tourism centre at Boundary Mill Store, Colne, will remain in place and plans to charge £7 to collect bulky refuse from homes have been thrown out.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had agreed on budget plans after a series of talks, but the Liberals did move an amendment to slash the bulk material costs and got Labour support.
The Labour Party moved five amendments but they were not voted in at the meeting.
Cuts for Pendle Leisure Trust have been reduced from £53,100 to £29,600, which means the Camerata orchestra concerts will continue and Pendle Leisure Centre’s sauna suite will stay open.
As a result of the decisions at the special budget meeting, there were savings of £1,211,380. The council’s reserves will be used to meet that money, so Pendle Council’s share of Council Tax will not rise. However, Lancashire Police Authority is looking to increase its share by 2.5% and some town and parish councils are rising their precept payments.