Council’s crucial budget meeting will beam live

OLDHAM Council will stream its meeting tomorrow live on the internet.

The special meeting will decide the budget for the coming year, which controversially is set to rise by 3.5per cent

Live internet streaming (go to www.oldham.gov.uk, from 6pm) allows residents to watch proceedings as they ahppen.

The meeting will also be broadcast live on Oldham Community Radio (99.7fm).

Liberal Democrats will challenge the ruling Labour party’s decision to raise council tax by 3.5 per cent by offering alternative solutions tomorrow - including cutting the council from 60 members to 40.

Lib-Dems say the rise can be reduced by one per cent if Labour chooses to save money elsewhere.

As well as cutting the number of councillors, they suggest reducing managers, more efficient management of Oldham children’s homes and raising income from parking.

Councillor Howard Sykes, Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, said: “With a bit more determination, Labour might have found just a little more and qualified for the government subsidy to make it zero per cent.”