WIRRAL council last night approved a 4.4% increase in council tax despite another bid by opposition Conservatives and rebel Liberal Democrats to overturn controversial library closures.

The Labour-Lib Dem budget will see a band D property’s bill rise from £1,387.64 to £1,439.

Labour leader Steve Foulkes insisted it had been a difficult year, but outlined a number of measures which he said would help the people of Wirral.

Among those was a council tax freeze for those over 75 years of age and help for local businesses, including a fund to ensure they are paid promptly, as well as an extra £690,000 for child protection in the wake of reports on the Baby P case.

Cllr Foulkes also defended plans which will see the council step in to help homebuyers affected by the credit crunch get onto the property ladder.

He insisted a Tory budget amendment would see the authority begin the next year with a £9m hole in its budget.

And he said the rise was partly due to changes made to the controversial Strategic Asset Review (SAR).

Cllr Foulkes said: “The council tax is 4.4% because people got what they campaigned for - it would have been 3.8%.

“Members of the public understand there is a difference between taking control and acting responsibly and the recklessness of the opposition.”