City council tax due to rise by 3.25pc

COUNCIL TAX will rise 3.25 per cent in York after the Conservative and Liberal Democrat-led administration’s budget was approved.

The plans include extra money for adult social care and children’s services as well as libraries, waste collection and roads. Council leader Ian Gillies, speaking at a full council meeting, said the council was “not taking the easy way out”.

He added: “Our investment will bring huge benefits making York the best place to live in the UK. This is a budget strategy that looks ahead to a positive future.”

He said that, while some members of the council were concerned about raising council tax, the plans “recognise the need to continue to provide effective services for our residents.”

Liberal Democrat deputy council leader Andrew Waller added that setting the budget has become increasingly difficult in the face of funding cuts from central government. The Labour and Green Party groups’ budget amendments, both of which would have seen council tax rise by 4.49 per cent, failed to gain enough support to pass. Speaking about the proposals, leader of the Labour group Coun Janet Looker said “It is a prudent budget but it’s a very odd pre-election budget. It’s not a giveaway budget.”

And Green Party Coun Dave Taylor said: “The city is falling further and further behind. It’s not filling the gap. Council tax should be higher with mitigation measures for the lowest paid in our city.”