UNIONS have welcomed the “no-cuts budget” passed by Salford’s left-wing Labour council, which has become the first local authority in Britain to introduce the real living wage for care workers.

Council tax in the city is set to rise by 3.99 per cent under the plans passed on Wednesday.

Care workers were addressed by Salford Mayor Paul Dennett and lead adult services councillor Gina Reynolds, who told them that the council would give supported living workers the real living wage of £9.30 an hour.