Opposition politicians in Altrincham have hit out at Trafford Council's decision to increase council tax by £120 a year - with Conservatives calling for the resignation of the authority's Labour leader Tom Ross.
The government signed off its final funding settlements for 2025/26 earlier this week and revealed that Trafford Council is one of only six authorities in England who have permission to raise council tax bills beyond 5%.
The council had requested exceptional financial support (EFS) as a means of plugging a budget gap of £12m, and Trafford will now be allowed to raise council tax by 2.5% above the 5% referendum level, resulting in a 7.49% increase in 2025/26.
Cllr Ross had defended the move, saying the council had faced “significant ongoing financial challenges” for several years and that the current situation was the result of “historic funding deficits and increasing cost pressures".
But Cllr Nathan Evans, Leader of Trafford Conservatives, called it "a new low from Labour".
He added: "Labour have gone behind the bike-sheds and cooked up a crooked deal with Angela Rayner to bypass the local referendum residents are entitled to.
"We will be petitioning the council to hold that referendum and our local MPs to demand that they reject this unnecessary rise in council tax in Parliament when it comes to be voted on."
He claimed the council had spent "significant funds on non-essential expenditures", citing external consultancy fees, diversity training costs, discretionary travel and conference expenses, failed care home projects and mismanaged pothole repairs.
A statement added: "Trafford Conservatives are calling for the immediate resignation of Trafford Council Leader Tom Ross following seven years of failures that have resulted in financial ruin, and the potential downfall of Trafford."
Cllr Shengke Zhi, for Bowdon Ward, added: "When we ran the council last in 2017, the Conservatives were honest about our budget; the settlement was never kind to Trafford but years of prudent local leadership under previous leadership meant the books balanced and services were maintained.
"The current leadership is wasteful and full of contempt for hard-working voters."
Meanwhile, Trafford Liberal Democrat leader Shaun Ennis also criticised the council tax hike, saying the "system is broken".
Cllr Ennis said: “This is extremely unwelcome news for people across Trafford. Especially those who have been struggling to make ends meet.
"Our budget gap has been directly impacted by the disastrous start Labour have made in government. When the new Chancellor stood up to present her first budget, our funding gap here in Trafford was £9.8 million. By the time she sat down, it had grown to £12 million. All because of Labour’s hike in employer’s national insurance contributions.”
Ennis also took aim at the local Conservatives over past decisions to freeze council tax.
“When the Conservatives ran Trafford, they irresponsibly froze council tax for five years even though they knew it would cause difficulties down the road," he said.
"That decision lost Trafford Council £14 million a year. This year we have a budget gap of £12 million. Our residents can do the maths even if the Tories can’t.”
And Paul Swansborough, Reform UK branch chair for Altrincham & Sale West, said he had written to Trafford Council CEO Sara Todd for clarification of its intention to raise council tax.
Swansborough said: "It's clear that Labour ran Trafford Council has lost control of their finances which indicates poor leadership both politically and at the executive level.
"For the council to consider pushing any such increase through, at this late stage, is undemocratic and grossly unfair. What is the point in having legislation that requires a referendum, if a local authority wishes to increase council tax above 5%, if it is overridden by Westminster?
"This mechanism was clearly put in place to protect residents and give them a say, should such a situation arise.
"I am therefore calling upon Trafford Council to stick to their previous budget proposals for the year 25/26. This will then allow enough time for the public to be consulted and ensure a robust debate moving forwards. The electorate can then give their final approval at the May 2026 local elections."
However, Trafford Council leader Cllr Ross said the decision to request a council tax increase "was not made lightly".
“This is not the time to play political football," he said.
"Trafford Council, like many other local authorities, is experiencing enormous financial pressures. And work to present a balanced budget, each year, has been extremely difficult.
“I do not shy away from my responsibilities – and take my position as the leader of Trafford Council very seriously. The decision to request a council tax increase and acquire a loan to help meet our financial duties was not made lightly.
“The reason this action had to be taken is due to an outdated and unfair funding system – which I have called on central government to overhaul. The authority is also paying the price of crippling austerity measures drafted in by the Tory and Lib Dem coalition government – and for context this has cost the council over £300m. In addition to the 5-year council tax freeze implemented by the previous Tory administration, which has also cost the council £14m of funding.
“Trafford Council is ranked within the 20 lowest funded authorities in England. And it also has one of the lowest council tax rates in Greater Manchester. With this in mind, this year, Trafford Council was required to bridge a funding gap of £26m.
“The local Tory party leader, Cllr Nathan Evans, explicitly knows why Trafford Council’s finances are at this point. And Cllr Evans would do well to remember the facts – and offer constructive suggestions on ways the authority can navigate through these difficult times - instead of wasting time scoring political points.”
