Cllr Kelly said: "Last week's Budget was part of the government's ongoing assault on the low-paid. This government now seems to be introducing a budget a day?

"Since the election, the government has introduced a series of budgets, mini budgets and tax increases. It is quite obvious that the hardest hit are those who can least afford to take the blows. Those on low incomes and pensioners.

"The Borough Council are now also to be faced with the almost impossible task of squaring its books, simply because it is deprived of sufficient funding from central government.

"It is time that all local Councillors had the courage to call a halt to these continued assaults on the ordinary householder.