A Tory councillor has been accused of living in "cuckoo land" after refusing to back an almost five per cent council tax rise.
North Tyneside Council's proposed budget includes a rise of council tax by 4.99%, ordained by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt in his Autumn statement last year.
The budget includes a rise in the authority's core spending of £19.7m but this is partly dependent on the council tax increase.
