COUNCIL tax payers in Wirral were told their bills will be frozen for the second successive year.

Wirral Council leader Steve Foulkes said he wanted to ease the pressure on cash-strapped households by guaranteeing no increase in the next financial year.

The move was announced as councillors discussed the findings of an internet-based budget simulator, which asked the people of Wirral how they thought the council should save £25m.

On average, the 1,700 people who took part called for a 3% cut in council tax bills – but Cllr Foulkes admitted it would be hard to implement.

Opposition parties said the freeze was only possible because of an extra government grant offered to councils who agree not to increase council tax.

Wirral has been promised a £3.3m top-up.

Cllr Foulkes said: “I can give the people of Wirral one piece of Christmas good news now. We know that, in these harsh economic times, household budgets are taking a real battering.

“Responses to the budget simulator suggested that, on average, residents would like to see a 3% cut in their council tax bills. I think that may be difficult to achieve at this point in time, but I am prepared to guarantee that we will be putting forward a budget proposal with a zero council tax increase in order to ease the pressure on council tax payers as much as possible.”

Wirral Conservative leader Jeff Green said Cllr Foulkes was merely following his party’s example.

He said: “I’m delighted Cllr Foulkes is going to follow our lead.”