Council approves 4.99% tax hike
INCREASE AMID GROWING FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
have approved a hike in council tax of 4.99 per cent for Hull households as part of the budget for the coming financial year.
A Band D property’s bills will rise by £80.78 from April, bringing the total charge to £1,699.61, while social housing rents have gone up by 7.7 per cent.
Hull City Council deputy leader Cllr Jackie Dad said the hikes came amid unprecedented financial challenges from inflation, rising energy costs and staff pay rises.
Budget proposals passed by councillors include attempts to claw back £5.8m partly from not filling vacant staff posts and reducing energy costs. A report on the budget warned future government funding for homelessness, domestic violence and addiction worth £7.6m is not guaranteed beyond March 2025.
There is also uncertainty about the future of the Household Support Fund, money given to councils to help people during the cost of living crisis.
Cllr Dad said the budget included £900,000 earmarked for use to help with the cost of living over the next three years, regardless of what happens to the government funding.
The budget also included cutting the price of bulky waste collections to £5. Funding has been set aside for small “pocket” parks, park maintenance and community nature trails, worth £100,000, £175,000 and £200,000 respectively.
The Crime Prevention Fund for bids for lighting and projects has received a further £500,000 with an extra £350,000 for new CCTV. A total of £1m has been allocated to the Love Your Neighbourhood scheme, funding to tackle graffiti, fly-tipping and litter.
The council is set to invest £1.5m for footpath repairs as part of a three-year fund totalling £4.5m, with road resurfacing including mending potholes getting £375,000.
Cllr Dad said: “This is a budget that delivers on people’s priorities. There’s £200,000 of new money for our wards over the next four years. But we’ve reluctantly had to increase council tax to 4.99 per cent, the Government’s made it clear that they expect councils to raise it by the maximum amount.
“This is necessary for the council so it can continue delivering the services for the people of Hull. The coming years are uncertain and very
challenging and it will require all of us to innovate and find efficiencies.”
How much more Hull households will pay:
The figures for council tax exclude the precepts for Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. They have increased by £12.99 a year and £2.84 a year respectively for Band D homes.
Band A: total charge- £1,133.07, yearly increase- £53.85, weekly increase- £1.04
Band B: total charge- £1,321.92, yearly increase- £62.83, weekly increase- £1.21
Band C: total charge- £1,510.76,
yearly increase- £71.80, weekly increase- £1.38
Band D: total charge- £1,699.61, yearly increase- £80.78, weekly increase- £1.55
Band E: total charge- £2,077.30, yearly increase- £98.73, weekly increase- £1.90
Band F: total charge- £2,454.99, yearly increase- £116.68, weekly increase- £2.24
Band G: total charge- £2,832.68, yearly increase- £134.63, weekly increase- £2.59
Band H: total charge- £3,399.22, yearly increase- £161.56, weekly increase- £3.11