COUNCIL tax will be frozen for the second year in a row.

The freeze was approved at a full Wigan Council meeting last night as part of a budget that will also see £2 million invested in community projects, including the creation of an Armed Forces Community Hub.

The council also agreed to support households and businesses by freezing car parking charges on council car parks and deliver £12m of savings through further transformation of its services.

Included in the budget is an agreement to invest:

• £1m in the Community Investment Fund.

• £500,000 to create what is believed to be Greater Manchester’s first community hub for the armed forces in partnership with the sea cadets.

• £500,000 in widening digital access for residents, including enabling 8,000 children with no home internet access to get online.

• £250,000 extra in keeping the borough clean and litter-free as part of the Deal.

Deputy leader Cllr David Molyneux said: “The council tax bill residents received in 2013/14 is the same as the council tax bill they will receive for 2015/16.

"Through The Deal we have transformed how we work and as a consequence we are now in a strong financial position to take up the unwelcome challenge of further cuts in public spending.

“Our residents are supporting us by fulfilling their side of the Deal by recycling more, volunteering and engaging with the delivery of services.

“It is thanks to our residents that we are able to freeze council tax and car park charges and provide some financial relief to residents and support to businesses.

“We are also able to continue investing in strengthening our communities. Our Community Investment Fund helps community groups deliver vital services in the heart of local communities.”

The budget also included investments in ‘the future of the borough’ through its apprenticeship programme, digital strategy and 20mph road safety scheme.

School crossing patrols have also been protected.

It is estimated the council will have to save a total of £46m by 2018, that will add up to almost £130m over seven years since 2010.

Although the budget received support from all parties, Cllr Gary Wilkes from the Wigan Independent Network did propose an amendment.

Amongst his requests, he called for the Borough Life magazine, which he described as a ‘luxury’ that costs taxpayers £100,000 a year, to be scrapped.

He also asked for £5 million from the reserves to be used to regenerate smaller town centres to balance out the investment in Leigh and Wigan.

Despite receiving support from conservative Cllr James Grundy and Standish Independent Cllr Gareth Fairhurst the amendment was voted against 51 to 12 with the overall budget approved with 60 votes in favour and three abstainers.

Next on the agenda was Cllr Norman Bradbury’s motion calling for work on the guided busway to be halted while a task group is set up to discuss some of the issues.

Cllr Grundy said: "This should be an example of how not to do a project. We came up with the idea and have just ploughed on regardless."

But was countered by Cllr Fred Walker who said Atherton now looked “grand” and Cllr Stephen Hellier who said that "scrapping a £68m scheme when it is two thirds of the way through is lunacy."

After a lively debate, the motion was defeated with nine votes in favour and the rest against.

Cllr Bradbury said: “This is once again the Labour Party burying its head in to the sand, taking no notice of the voters, and under the illusion that if they tell lies over and over again they become the truth."