Local Liberal Democrat councillors have criticised their Reform UK and Conservative counterparts for blocking their alternative budget to "invest in our future".

A gruelling 10-hour Warwickshire County Council meeting last week ended with no budget set for the coming year after political groups were unable to come together on a plan for 2026/27.

The Lib Dems narrowly saw their alternative budget voted down as the chamber failed to find a consensus.

Reform UK had proposed the lowest council tax rise of all the groups at 3.89 per cent, but this was voted down as the Conservatives pushed for 4.89 per cent. The Lib Dems, Greens, Labour and council finance officers all wanted the maximum of 4.99 per cent.

As the meeting progressed, the Liberals, Greens, Labour and independent councillor Judy Falp formed their own compromises, giving up some new spending plans to incorporate Tory wants on gulley cleaning and rural transport in the hope that the dark blue corner would abstain – not vote for or against it – and allow the pact to pass.

But ultimately the meeting was adjourned with no plan in place and councillors will return to Shire Hall on February 17 for another go at setting the budget.

The Lib Dems claim their budget would have provided £28 million in investments in a child poverty and neglect strategy, children and family hubs, home to school transport, active travel infrastructure, solar panels and various other projects.

Meanwhile, Reform promised their proposals would reduce waste within the council itself, while also promising to freeze the price of parking permits and secure the council's long-term finances.

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Speaking after last week's meeting, Lib Dem leader Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said: "This week has been a deeply disappointing week for the people of Warwickshire, particularly our young people and vulnerable residents who deserved better.

"For just 39 pence per week - literally the cost of a Freddo - we could have protected youth services serving 4,000 young people, invested in preventing child poverty, and built £28 million worth of infrastructure for Warwickshire's future.

"Instead, Reform and the Conservatives joined forces to block these investments, but they offered nothing in return.

"Reform's own budget would have closed 25 youth clubs, cut support for domestic abuse, and relied on £4.7 million in magical 'transformation' savings they couldn't even describe.

"We were prepared to make the difficult but responsible choice: invest 39p extra per week now to prevent expensive crises later. Prevention saves money and transforms lives. Reform chose to save 39p and create the conditions for family breakdown, youth disengagement, and community decline.

"We will continue fighting for a budget that invests in Warwickshire's future, not one that cuts services today and stores up a crisis for tomorrow."

Before last week's meeting, council leader Cllr George Finch defended his group's bid for the lower council tax rise, saying others were going for the "easy" option of a maximum rise.

He said: "I believe in low tax, low spend and we shouldn't just be taking money off the people because it's easier. 

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"We should look within our walls, this council, the organisation to make those savings so we don't have to burden the people more.

"It's getting increasingly difficult to buy the necessities: bread, milk, butter, food. 

"It's getting a lot harder so we want to make sure that we're not burdening the residents.

"Why not less is because the council still needs to function their core functions still need to have the best services possible.

"This kind of budget is not just about cutting and making efficiencies but also investing into major services to make it more efficient."