Councillors to decide on spreading the tax burden

Me a’e awa’e of tge p’erru’e on “peopler/ gnance/. Wanv famklke/ ase al’eady rt’ufifilhnfi and we feel we cannot add /khnkgcantlv to tieks busden

N orth Yorkshire County Councillors will meet on 15 February to consider the budget in the light of pressure on services, the progress of our transformation programme and the continuing need to make savings. Members will vote on a recommendation from the Executive to increase general council tax next year by 1.99% along with a 2% social care precept. The County Council’s financial strategy is based on a similar 3.99% increase each year up to 2020 in order to prioritise frontline services. The cost to the average band D household will be an additional £45.64 a year (£3.80 a month or 88p a week). The government has offered councils the chance to increase the social care precept by 3% in each of the next two years. The Executive, however, recommends raising the precept by 2% in each of the next three years to balance the need for funding of critical services, including adult social care, with affordability for the taxpayer. “We are aware of the pressure on people’s finances,” said County Councillor Carl Les, County Council Leader. “Many families are already struggling to make ends meet and we feel we cannot add significantly to their burden.” Nevertheless, the council remains concerned about increasing pressures, not least in adult social care, and will continue to push for a fairer government funding deal given the current low levels of funding; rising number of older people; and higher costs of delivery in a large rural county. In the coming financial year, the council faces additional costs of £13m in adult social care, which now accounts for nearly half the council’s overall budget. This is a result of pressure from increasing demand, the impact of the National Living Wage, inflation and some planned savings which cannot now be achieved because of the increasing demand on the service. “Without doubt we face enormous challenges in the delivery of frontline services,” said Cllr Les, “but we will continue to work closely with partners in the NHS and voluntary sector to deliver high-quality, sustainable services and we will continue to innovate and improve to support older and vulnerable people to live well and independently in their communities for as long as possible. “We will also strive to continue to make savings while addressing the needs of the county by continuing with our programme to transform the way we deliver services.” Cllr Les said the council also needed to continue to invest in programmes such as superfast broadband, extra care facilities, prevention services for vulnerable people and tackling potholes on the county’s roads to boost growth and economic development.