HEATED debates at a meeting last night has resulted in council tax being put up to 4.99 per cent.

While members unanimously agreed to a three per cent rise devoted to adult social care, the remaining price hike split the vote.

The Labour majority council lamented cuts from central government and advised that the vulnerable would be the worst affected by this.

Council leader Doug Taylor said: “Cameron & May know nothing of the value of local service and appear to care even less.

“I recognise the difficulties but no one should be under any illusion about the effects of these cuts.

“They seem to have ignored Einstein’s theory of madness and are doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.”

But the opposition focused on the Copeland by-election where the once-labour stronghold in Cumbria voted in a Conservative MP for the first time in 80 years.

Leader of the opposition Cllr Terry Neville said: “The main party in this chamber is living on borrowed time.

“Half of you will be ousted when Momentum gets a grip.

“Cuts to services could have been better managed or avoided all together in some cases.”

Although the conservative party criticised labour heavily for ‘financial mismanagement’ they did not bring an alternative budget.

The bitterest dispute of the night was regarding the closure of the Edmonton Job Centre, Fore Street in favour of keeping the more modern centre on Alderman’s Hill in Palmers Green open.

Unemployment in Edmonton is higher than the rest of the borough, and as there is a higher population of black and ethnic minorities.

As tensions ran high, Cllr Neville was told to sit down as Mayor of Enfield Bernadette Lappage scolded him for “inappropriate” behaviour and chastised other councillors who cheered “well done” at her handling of the situation.

An investment of £32 million ICT capital investment was agreed on to update systems over the next three years until 2019/2020.

The council’s 30 year plan for rent setting and service charges was also settled on and rent for social housing was lowered by one per cent in line with plans made by former chancellor George Osborne.