A SENIOR councillor has denied that a proposal to freeze council tax was politically motivated, maintaining the last time they did so it was political ‘suicide’.

The deputy leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Sheelagh Clarke, dismissed the allegation made by Independent councillor Steve Kay at a cabinet meeting today (Tuesday, December 9).

The authority’s report highlighted a range of opportunities around its council tax charge, including an increase or accepting a Government grant in lieu.

But the funding position for the 2015-16 budget is based on maintaining it at 2014-15 levels - a freeze.

The council aims to save £19.74m between this year at 2017 - with £10.975m saved in 2014-15 and a £3.925m target for the following year.

Cllr Kay said: “It’s a bit of a fabrication to say you have options here. It’s apparent to me the decision has already been taken.

“The bottom line is you are having a council tax freeze because you think it will help you at election time in May.

“There’s no other reason for this - you have moved from your previous policy.”

However, Cllr Clarke, hit back pointing out that Labour oversaw three consecutive years of a council tax freeze in the early 2000s - yet lost control of the council at the 2003 election.

“If we’re doing this for election purposes, we are committing suicide," she said.

"We are doing it to hold it down in times of austerity when residents of our borough are already squeezed badly and this will help them.

“At this point in time, people have been hit particularly hard and this is something we can do to help them.

“If you go by history, it certainly didn’t work before and we certainly won’t be doing it for that reason.”

There will now be a consultation period before the final budget and council tax levels for 2015-16 are set on March 3.