CHESHIRE County Council this week agreed the lowest Council Tax rise in its history, but rivals have accused the Conservatives of 'selling the family silver'.

The Tory administration was quick to point out the 2.7% increase, agreed at Thursday's full council meeting, means Cheshire taxpayers have enjoyed the lowest rise of any English shire over the past four years.

Council leader Paul Findlow said: 'When we were elected four years ago, we pledged to limit Council Tax rises and keep them more in line with inflation than the previous administration's 40% rise in four years.

'We have honoured that promise to the people of this county while maintaining services which have been rated among England's best.'

Tory finance spokesman Gretta Cousins revealed her group's 'best yet' budget uses almost £11m of efficiency gains to provide value for money for service users and taxpayers.

After consultation with the public and interested parties, the administration has changed plans to cut library hours and make changes to funding for speech therapy, Connexions and some voluntary organ-isations. There will be £7m more for social services, bringing the administration's total investment to £40m in four years.

In education, the authority will spend almost £13m above White-hall's recommendations.

Despite a £2m reduction for highways in Government funding, Cheshire's ruling Tory group says it will continue to invest in the county's roads spending another £1m extra from capital receipts obtained through the disposal of surplus property..

Last week, the opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat groups announced alternative budgets.

Sue Proctor, leader of the Lib Dems - who proposed a 3.37% increase - accused the Tories of setting budgets that are not sustainable in the long term.

She said: 'The Conservatives have gone too far this time. I think this budget is an attempt to buy votes.'

The Labour group's finance spokesman, David Newton, described the budget as 'short-sighted, narrow in focus, lacking flair and good financial judgment and dominated by a single, myopic purpose', and said the Tories were 'selling the family silver and damaging assets'.

Vale Royal Borough Council is proposing to increase its Council Tax by 4.7% in the next financial year. That figure - equating to an average of £136.79 - is due to be debated by members of the council's executive group tomorrow (Thursday).

Cheshire Police Authority set its Council Tax rise for this year at 5%, which will mean most residents in Cheshire will pay between 6p and 9p more a week, depending on the size of their house.

Police Authority chairman Peter Nurse said: 'By doing this we will sustain the service we offer and continue to drive down crime.'