The Labour-led Milton Keynes Council have been slammed by the local Conservative Party for planning to yet another significant increase in Council Tax.

A rise of 2.99 per cent will mean the average MK household will be £300 worse off than when Labour came to power in 2014.

It is the fifth year in a row the council has increased council tax by the maximum amount and the Tories have claimed this is down to Labour’s reckless use of money.

They claim this includes:

• £10.8 million spent on a Council Office refurbishment that is more than £5million over budget;

• almost £1 million of damages handed out to a company after an asbestos contract blunder;

• £8 million wasted on interest rates after borrowing 3 years too early on the waste treatment facility;

• and they may have lost £15 million after failing to properly manage their repairs and maintenance contract;

Leader of the Conservatives Group Cllr Alex Walker said: “Yet again hard working residents of Milton Keynes will have to pick up the tab of this Labour Council’s wasteful spending.

“Sadly it is becoming the norm for projects to be over budget and delayed. They have installed a culture of waste, and as a result we find ourselves having to find millions of pounds to fill the gap.

“Tax payers and businesses are keeping the Council going and in fact we are much better off compared to our neighbours because of the success of our economy. If Labour hadn’t wasted so much we could be looking at serious investments in our landscaping, roads and tackling homelessness.

“They were punished at the local elections in May for their reckless attitude to our money, I am determined to make sure they are punished again.”