Stockport town hall leaders have hit out at Westminster saying the borough is being 'left behind' through a lack of financial support.

The council set its annual budget on February 26 as councillors painted a bleak picture of the future.

It comes after the government's 'fairer funding' review dished out cash to councils across the country to help pay for key services.

But in Stockport town hall, the Lib Dems who lead the council said the government has let it down despite years of 'careful financial management'.

Stockport had to make £20m of savings to balance the books this year and use £4m of reserves, with £75m of savings needed over the next five years.

The budget this year will see Stockport council spend £356m on providing hundreds of services for residents.

Councillors voted in favour of the plans, with 60 votes in favour of the budget and just one vote against from Conservative councillor Peter Crossen.

The budget will see some costs going up for Stopfordians.

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It includes a council tax hike of 4.99 per cent, which adds £103 to yearly bills for band D households.

Car parking charges in Stockport town centre are also going up as part of plans by the council to save £500,000.

Previous budgets in Stockport saw a £59 yearly garden waste charge brought in, and new fees at car parks which used to be free to use.

Council leader Mark Roberts said more difficult decisions will be needed in Stockport due to the borough's financial situation.

He told councillors: "Demand is rising, costs are rising, and Stockport has received a financial settlement that is simply not enough to meet the needs of our borough, but Stockport has never been a place that shies away from difficult decisions."

Deputy leader Jilly Julian said Stockport is 'demonstrably being left behind' by Westminster.

She pointed out that Stockport is getting £26m more over the next three years in its financial settlement, which marks a 7.5 per cent increase, but Coun Julian explained that this is less than half the average spending increase which other councils across England are getting.

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Coun Julian added: "Not only is this settlement not enough to even stand still, it sets out how damaging so-called fairer funding will be over the next few years."

Others in the council chamber also took aim at the Labour government over Stockport's finances.

Councillor David Sedgwick, from Stockport Community Group, said: "A settlement that once again leaves us short-changed is not a settlement at all."

Conservative Councillor Peter Crossen attacked the Lib Dems though, saying he would not support their budget plans.

He accused the Lib Dems of coming up with 'no fresh thinking' and added: 'It follows the same formula, increase tax on Stockport residents and attribute the blame elsewhere.'

Stockport's financial position has seen relations between the borough and Westminster sour in recent months.

Part of the frustration in SK1 stemmed from Stockport missing out on the Recovery Grant, a scheme which has paid out hundreds of millions to councils in other parts of the country.

A budget amendment from the Stockport Community Group to spend £143,000 on play equipment for children across the borough was unanimously approved in the council chamber.

Stockport Labour group, the official opposition, also submitted a budget amendment to fund a series of events aimed at 'bringing people together' and improving community relations.

Labour group leader Christine Carrigan said: "Fear is growing and our communities feel less safe."`

The Labour group amendment was approved, with 56 votes in favour and five abstentions.

Lib Dem Councillor Dan Oliver supported the amendment and said: "We all know it's needed, but we wish it wasn't."

In terms of new plans for Stockport, the council has got £150m to spend on new projects, in what is known as its capital budget.

Most of this cash will go towards the council's work on regeneration and housing.

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