A 7.3 per cent increase in Barnet's council tax was approved on Tuesday after an evening of political debate at the town hall.

This increase is made up of 4.5 per cent for Barnet's own needs and 2.8 per cent for the Greater London Authority. The meeting rejected an alternative Tory budget that would have meant a one per cent lower rise in the Barnet tax.

Council leader Alan Williams described the council budget as creating opportunity for all.

Education was the key and the record breaking schools budget would provide nearly £10million additional resources for schools, exceeding government targets, he said.

Another major step would be the launch of a £500,000 borough-wide weekly collection of material for recycling, he said. In response to concerns about crime, a neighbourhood wardens scheme would be introduced, particularly to patrol town centres.

Mr Williams scornfully dismissed the Conservative budget as having been "written on the back of a fag packet".

Liberal Democrat leader Monroe Palmer said his group had made significant input into the council budget which they wholeheartedly supported.

Tory opposition leader Victor Lyon said their budget would postpone any introduction of a Warden Service pending a successful trial run. And there would be a brake on spending for the Finchley Arts Centre and the Burnt Oak Youth and Community Centre.

With public safety a key issue the Conservatives would extend the borough's closed circuit television system and spend more than £300,000 on improved street lighting.

Highlights of the Labour budget:

An 8.2 per cent increase in funding for school pupils

Fully funding the teachers' pay award and London weighting

Provide some 26 neighbourhood wardens across the borough

Launch a "people's network" with free internet access through libraries

Highlights of the Tory budget:

Provide 14 new CCTV cameras

Spend £310,000 on improved street lighting

£100,000 extra funding for voluntary organisations

A minimum of £1million for essential school repairs

Barnet council tax for the coming year will be:

BandA£582.86

BandB£680.00

BandC£777.15

BandD£874.29

BandE£1,068.58

BandF£1,262.87

BandG£1,457.15

BandH£1,748.58