A FORMER council leader has challenged a political rival to meet him in public after a row about the authority's finances.

The challenge was made after Councillor Glyn Nightingale, of the ruling coalition at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said next year's council tax could rise by 12 per cent.

The Liberal Democrat blamed the previous Labour administration for delaying spending to hold down council tax before last month's elections.

Coun Nightingale, head of resources at the council, said Labour had put off increasing the salaries of senior staff, spending money on schools and arranging payments for home care. He has ordered a review of council spending.

Yesterday, Dave Walsh, former leader of the council, issued a challenge to Coun Nightingale to hold a debate on the issue.

Mr Walsh, who lost his seat in last month's elections, said Labour had reduced council tax from the second highest in the country to average levels.

He added that a review of senior management spending had already been established under Labour, and that all Government money had been passed on to schools.

He said: "I lay a deliberate challenge to Glyn. I will take him on head-to-head in a scrutiny committee meeting in front of the District Auditor."

Coun Nightingale said: "I think Dave Walsh has misunderstood me. No-one is saying there was corruption, but we think there are things to look at about the financial strategy. Payments have been held back.

"It is not up to me about whether I go to a scrutiny committee meeting. It is up to those committees to hold us to account, which is quite right. I would be happy to attend."