Oxford city council has tonight pushed through an inflation-busting 4.5 per cent increase in council tax — without any substantive debate.

The ruling minority Labour administration tabled a budget based on a 4.5 per cent increase in the city’s share of the final bill in April.

Forty-four councillors were present at tonight’s crunch budget-setting meeting at the Town Hall — 22 Labour and 22 opposition councillors.

Two Independent Working Class Association councillors failed to show up and one Liberal Democrat councillor was sick, which in the event of a tied vote meant the casting vote went to Lord Mayor and Labour councillor Susanna Pressel.

The meeting started at 5pm, but the swift action meant the Liberal Democrat opposition did not have a chance to table and debate its rival budget, which was based on a council tax increase of two per cent.

The Labour budget contains no money for repairs to the crumbling Covered Market, which had previously been promised £50,000 — and leaves a huge question-mark hanging over the future of the Museum of Oxford.

One opposition councillor said: “What are they hiding? They have made promises and failed to keep them before — like over the closure of Peers pool — so it is no wonder there was no discussion.”