A £1M boost to voluntary sector and council services in Redcar and Cleveland has been unveiled.

The announcement was made as the controlling Labour group on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council revealed it would not be putting up council tax, for the second year running.

At the moment, more than 28,000 Band A houses in the borough pay £714.57 a year and this will rise only because of an expected rise in the police precept.

And it means that the authority - once criticised for having the second highest council tax in the country - hopes to see its place in the league lowered.

Councillor David Walsh, Leader of the council, said highways maintenance and local voluntary services threatened by cash reductions from central government would also be rescued because of efficiency savings.

He said the boost to services included:

l More cash for social services and a growth in social care packages

l More money for the successful Neighbourhood Warden scheme to allow for sick and holiday cover and a scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour over the Bonfire Night period

l More cash for the welfare rights service

l An out-of-hours extension of the food safety service to cover the growing number of late night takeaways

l A cash grant to cover the cost of council-supported bus routes in east Cleveland, after Arriva withdrew some services

l More cash for highway cleansing

l A boost for town centre management across the borough to help regenerate high streets.

Coun Walsh said: "These new initiatives will see a cleaner, safer borough, and one where schemes designed to help the most vulnerable in our society will be able to continue and grow."

He said the authority was hoping to go for the treble next year.

Last night, Hartlepool Borough Council was due to discuss its council tax budget at a full council meeting. The hung council, run by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, has proposed an increase of 4.5 per cent, for the third year running.

Band A properties currently pay £665.80 a year without the police precept