Labour plans to slash funding for West Lancashire's parish communities have been slammed by Conservative councillors.
The Opposition group put forward and voted in favour of an amendment to last night's Conservative budget calling for grants to Parish Councils to be cut by 50%.
Cllr Ruth Pollock, Conservative Borough Councillor for Up Holland and a parish councillor for the village, said: "I could not believe it when the Labour Group Leader - himself an Up Holland Councillor - stood up and called for deep cuts to public services in Up Holland and other parishes in West Lancashire. This means that as well as putting future schemes in jeopardy, it would also put at risk those which have already started.
"Like the rest of Labour's proposals, this was badly thought out and would inflict savage cuts to communities - all so Labour can fund their pet projects which do not deliver taxpayer value for money."
Cllr George Pratt, Conservative Councillor for Burscough East and a local parish councillor, added: "Labour's plans to cut the grants by 50% are a real kick in the teeth for parish councils, which do a lot of good work in local communities across West Lancashire."
Other Labour amendments included raiding the public coffers to pay for services the Borough Council already provides, including spend thousands to "ensure... elected members have face to face contact with the public".
Conservative Councillor for Derby Ward, David Sudworth, lambasted the proposals and labelled the Labour Group "out of touch."
"I find it astonishing that, in these tough times when Labour left the country broke, they are demanding yet more taxpayers' money to do something for which they already get an annual allowance of more than £4,000," said Cllr Sudworth
"As councillors, it is our job to go out there and speak to people. In my own ward, we do this a lot with street surgeries, letters and regular newsletters, but Labour's attitude seems to be they need yet more money to do it.
"This shows just how out of touch Labour are with the people of West Lancashire."