Frodsham's ward Councillor, Lynn Riley, entered into a fiery exchange with Cheshire West and Chester Council Leader Louise Gittins at last night's (February 25) council tax setting, as Cllr Gittins suggested that the town is 'a dump'.

During CWAC's four-hour-long Council meeting, Councillors clashed over Labour's proposed 4.99 per cent rise in the borough's council tax for 2021/22, 3 per cent of which relates to the adult social care precept.

This will amount to a bill of £2010.69 for a Frodsham Band D property, and £2012.46 for the Helsby equivalent.

Cllr Riley said she would not be supporting this 'exorbitant' increase, adding "I do that from a personal perspective but also on behalf of the 3,675 households in Frodsham.

"Since Labour came to power and set its first budget after 2016, Frodsham taxpayers have seen their council tax rise by 31.89 per cent, and sadly we have very little to show for it," the Conservative Councillor continued.

"Our streets, though sadly empty, are dirty and unloved, our roads and pavements are poorly maintained and full of holes.

"Our gullies are not emptied, our grass is rarely cut, our local tip is closed an extra day, our fly-tipping is always a battle to get removed and our leisure centre was one of the last to open in the borough after lockdown last year.

"The unprecedented year that we have had, and the neglect of this Labour Council, is now putting Frodsham residents at risk.

"The Council's inability to maintain its own car park was basically the reason that Frodsham never saw a test centre established in a very key part of our local geography.

"Your inability to maintain our local leisure centre is putting it at real risk of having to close in parts. Frodsham residents just do not get access to the same level of service as other residents across the Council.

"There was only one reference to Frodsham in the budget itself which was for a car park expansion that we really needed in April 2019 when the Halton Curve opened.

"I'm pretty sure if you ask us now what we really wanted we'd like to see that money invested in our leisure centre, which is at risk of closing."

In response, Cllr Gittins said: "It's a bit surprising to hear Cllr Riley, who's always saying how wonderful Frodsham is, actually say what a dump it is.

"To me, it sounds like it needs a Labour councillor, so maybe we'll see some movement on that in the elections in May."

Cllr Riley took issue with this assessment, accusing Cllr Gittins of 'electioneering' and demanding an apology which she did not receive.

To conclude the debate, Cabinet member for Finance, Cllr Carol Gahan, stressed that the council tax rise was needed to fund vital adult and children's social care services in the borough.

She lamented that residents be the ones to pay when "some of these things should be funded by central government."

Councillors then moved to a vote. Helsby ward's Cllr Paul Bowers supported the proposal, while Sandstone's Cllr Hugo Deynem opposed it along with Cllr Riley.

With 40 Councillors in favour and 28 against, the council tax rise was approved.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Riley said she was "very disappointed at the disrespect shown to the people of Frodsham, and the attempt to manipulate my words when actually I was saying that the town felt unloved by the Council.

"I think Cllr Gittins owes the town an apology for the offence caused to others.

"At a time when we've got some big issues in Frodsham, I would have hoped that the Council Leader could be a bit more encouraging."