North West Leicestershire District Council's Labour Group submitted their alternative budget to the Council's February meeting which took place in Coalville this evening (Thursday).

The Labour proposals, which were tabled as an amendment to the annual budget, include more help for families hit by the cost of living crisis and an increase in the number of new Council houses.

The Leader of the Labour Group, Cllr Sean Sheahan, said that the alternative budget signalled changes for both the short and medium term.

He said: "People need help right now with the cost of living crisis, and the Council could help a lot by funding a money advice worker, based within the Citizens Advice Bureau.

"At the same time, the long waiting list for Council houses suggests we need to get on and build more."

Cllr Sheahan added that the proposals gave an insight of what a Labour Council would do for the District.

He added: "We're signalling our intent to re-balance the local economy towards higher skills and higher wages.

"Why should we tolerate a situation where nearly all the growth we are seeing in our district consists of warehouses?

"Labour would grow local skills and businesses, particularly creative enterprises, whilst making the district a more attractive place for a greater range of industries, like manufacturing, to set up."

Labour's alternative budget also tries to address the Council's finances.

Cllr Sheahan explained, "We're calling time on the zero percent Council Tax rise, which is unsustainable.

"If we don't address this issue, the Council is heading for insolvency.

"We think a rise in Council Tax of £3.75p for a Band D property would be sensible. At the same time we would like to see Council house rent rises kept down to two per cent."

In a further move, Labour has called for the amount the Council spends on consultants to be cut by 25 per cent, rising to 50 per cent after three years.