CONTROVERSIAL plans to remove lollipop men and women from school crossings and further reduce street lighting provision in Blaenau Gwent have been scrapped by the council.

The county borough council agreed its budget for the next financial year on Friday, including raising council tax by 4.9 per cent.

But a plan to remove crossing patrols from around 13 schools in the borough was overturned, to the delight of campaigners packed into the public gallery.

Council leader, Cllr Nigel Daniels, said the authority had listened to the views of the public in making the decision, following a "forensic review" of the issue.

Cllr Daniels also announced extra funding would be allocated to turn street lights on main roads back on until midnight, coming into effect as early as next week.

And work will also start so that street lighting on industrial estates can be turned back on from the summer, after businesses warned the switch-off was leaving them vulnerable to crime.

A proposal to introduce charges for school breakfast clubs was scrapped, while a 1.5 per cent increase in funding for schools was agreed.

A reduction in staffing of 24 posts will be implemented, but the council says compulsory redundancies will be a "very last resort."

Sports clubs will have to undertake community asset transfers by April 1, when council financial support will be withdrawn.

But Cllr Daniels said preparations have been ongoing since August, 2017, and that all except one club have nearly completed the transfers.

The council tax rise equates to an increase of £1 a week for a band A property and a £1.15 a week increase for band B.

Cllr Daniels said the rise would help protect as many services as possible.

Money will also be used to increase council reserves after the authority was criticised by the Wales Audit Office for its low levels.

But the move was opposed by the council's Labour group, with opposition leader Cllr Steve Thomas putting forward alternative proposals resulting in a 3.98 per cent council tax increase.

"I do not think it is the right time to give the burden of replenishing reserves to the good people of Blaenau Gwent who have already suffered enough," he said.

The amendment also proposed reversing a rise in licensing fees for taxi drivers but it was voted against by a majority vote.

Speaking afterwards, Gareth Morgans, from the GMB union which opposed cutting crossing patrols, said: "The council has seen sense in putting children's safety first and recognised the value of staff they've got.

"These people are out in all weathers protecting children."