Opposition councillors criticised Enfield Council's borrowing as the authority set its budget.

But council leader Councillor Doug Taylor said the council tax freeze was made despite "enormous pressure" due to cuts in Government funding.

The local authority, which last night met to set its budget for the 12 months from April, must find £50m in savings by 2019.

Cllr Taylor highlighted the tax freeze for the sixth year running.

He said: “Despite enormous pressure this administration has again frozen its council tax for a sixth successive year which means a reduction in real terms.

“This council has stuck to its word despite government cuts. We will continue to fight for better resources for all services.”

Conservative opposition group leader Cllr Terry Neville was critical of the Labour budget, particularly for the levels of borrowing, and slammed progress at the Meridian Water development scheme.

He said: “Under your borrowing we will see a debt rise from £270m in 2009/10 to £552m by March 31, 2019. Sadly what this administration is doing is saddling future generations with enormous amounts of debt, such that the borough will not be able to easily recover.

“We learn last Friday that this [Meridian Water development], the largest housing scheme in London, has not been listed as a housing zone, there has not been sufficient progress. Five years wasted.”

The opposition then produced five amendments to the budget which stated on a document handed out to councillors:

  • Review borrowing and current borrowing commitments
  • Amend the housing gateway project to purchase houses in London
  • Embrace more free schools
  • Bring forward the Enfield 2017 project
  • Reduce the budget for temporary accommodation
  • Abandon the landlord’s licensing scheme.

These five points were dismissed as “vague” by Labour councillors.

Cllr Ayfer Orhan said: “I am yet to see any evidence that free schools are better than ones run by the council.”

The meeting was docile affair compared to previous meetings, with references to Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and Winston Churchill as the Enfield Council meeting ran late into the evening.