Basildon Council’s leader rejected the idea of the borough paying for street lights to be kept on overnight.

Ukip councillor David Harrison put forward a motion asking for a public consultation on the idea of raising council tax to fund night lighting.

But Tory council leader Phil Turner dismissed the idea as a “get out of jail free card” for Essex County Council, which introduced the policy in a bid to save £1million per year.

Mr Turner said: “It seems childish to bring a motion forward on that point. This is councillor Harrison playing to the gallery, because we know everyone wants the street lights on.

“You can find a thousand things to put council tax up for.

“We should be saying to the county council, ‘you have responsibility, the electorate don’t like what you have done and you should find the funding to keep these lights burning’.

“The county council will love a motion that puts the onus back on the boroughs – this is a get out of jail free card.”

Last week, Harlow Council announced it would raise council tax by 1.5 per cent to generate the £100,000 needed to keep lights on between midnight and 5am.

Mr Harrison, who represents Wickford Park ward, wants to establish if residents would be prepared for a “small increase” in council tax to fund lighting.

If so, he wants Basildon Council to pay for the lights out of its reserves in the short-term before budgeting for the scheme in the next financial year. Mr Harrison said: “We want to consult residents first because there are varying views.

“Some say they are happy as it is. Most seem to want them back on, but are they prepared to pay an additional cost?

“This motion is about democracy and asking the people of the borough what they want.”

Mr Turner said Basildon Council was open to one-off investment, but would not consider ongoing payments for lighting.

He said: “If we pay the county for this, where would you draw the line?

“We have tried to meet them half way and said we would fund LED lightbulbs as a one-off.

“But ongoing costs are different.

"If inflation takes off and costs rise, before you know it you cannot afford it any more.

“Then everyone gets on your back when it is actually the county council’s responsibility.”