Basildon Council will stop paying for extra police and to keep lights on overnight in a move described as an “an open invitation to criminals”.

During a debate on Thursday night, Basildon councillors voted to approve its new budget which will see council tax rise alongside a number of cuts.

The amount of council tax residents pay to Basildon Borough Council will increase by 2.97 per cent to £287.19, to help close an additional budget gap of £3.4million.

Funding to keep street lights on between 1am-5am and for additional police officers in the borough is being cut, in a move the opposition described as “an open invitation to criminals.”

Additionally, charges for optional garden waste collections are being introduced, while council house rents are being increased by 7 per cent.

Conservative cabinet member for resources and commercial, Stuart Sullivan, said external national pressures such rising inflation had made setting a balanced budget “extremely challenging.”

He said: “But it is a challenge the administration and our officers have risen to, taking at times difficult decisions we deem necessary to not only ensure the council remains solvent, but to protect the provision of the services our residents rely on, whilst still continuing a programme of ambitious investment in our borough.”

He continued to say funding for additional police had been introduced against a backdrop of falling officer numbers but these have since increased.

Mr Sullivan added: “The council is no longer in a position to finance services which other bodies are obliged to provide.”

He later said: “The removal of funding from both police and street lighting will be mitigated by the council continuing to fund street wardens, who are actively dedicated to disrupting criminal and antisocial activity in the borough.”

Opposition leader, councillor Maryam Yaqub, said the budget is an “open invitation to criminals” and that the administration had previously promised to prioritise tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

Other spending measures include £6.6million for a new pool for Pitsea, £5.6million on improving energy efficiency in council homes and £1million towards Laindon Community Centre.

Essex County Council voted earlier this month to increase its share of council tax by £49.05 next year for a Band D property.