The recommended 2.5% increase in council tax will only bring in an additional £966,625 to the council's coffers, while much of the remaining £47 million is a mix of one off funding and previously announced pots of money.

Cllr Dave Smithson, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Knowsley, said: "In our opinion the real figure of new money for investment in front line essential services is a lot closer to £14 million than £48 million.

"For example £23 million of this is capital funding for buildings, highways and essential maintenance work, not what most people regard as core services, while £10 million is Neighboorhood Renewal Fund allocations which have already been announced once and is time limited.

"Add to this the one off use of almost £3 million of reserves that will not be available 12 months from now  - equivalent to another 7.5% increase in council tax - and the picture for next year starts to look at lot bleaker than they are painting.

"Rather than trying to put so much spin in presenting this as inflated good news the Council would be better of being straight and honest with people."

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