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Row over future council tax rises
Council tax could rise three per cent for two years in a row in Hull, opposition councillors claim.
The figures come from the medium term financial plan, which are part of the budget proposals being discussed on Thursday.
This year council tax in the city is being frozen as Hull Council, like many others round the country, took advantage of a one-off grant from the Government.
However the Lib Dems claim city ratepayers are in for a sharp rise in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 because Labour’s spending plans will create a gap of £24m in the council’s finances.
Labour’s Phil Webster branded the claims “ridiculous”: “This is an officer assumption not a member assumption; we haven’t even discussed council tax in the future - but we have made a decision this year which is zero.
“What happens if the Government comes forward and says they will fund a freeze again?”
The Liberal Democrats are putting forward proposals to find £11m of savings, including nearly £5m to cover inflationary costs of three per cent on a wide range of “non pay” items - everything from fuel to pens and paper.
Their amendments also include proposals to develop a £5m apprenticeship scheme to tackle residents concerns including street cleaning and £1m towards the green energy sector. They insist they could still afford a council tax freeze beyond this year.
But Coun Webster said their plans to save money from inflation costs would mean having to make a decision “to turn the heating down or stop feeding pensioners” and came with a health warning from an officer that “no definitive assurance can be given as to the deliverability of these proposals.”
Coun Mike Ross, deputy leader of the Lib Dem group, said there would still be money to fund necessary costs: “What we are saying is we don’t believe in a blanket ban for inflationary costs. We have to use limited taxpayers money wisely and efficiently.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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