Local government: Tory council to freeze tax

A YORKSHIRE council has become one of the first in the country to announce that it will be freezing council tax next year.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th May 2010, 23:52 BST

Updated 14th May 2010, 23:52 BST

Tory-run East Riding Council said there'd be no increase in the bill for services it provides in 2011/2012.

Council leader Steve Parnaby said only unforeseen events, like major flooding or deeper than expected cuts in Government funding, would derail the plans.

One of the key Tory Party manifesto commitments is to freeze council tax for two years. However the Department of Communities and Local Government said it was too early to say whether other councils would be expected to follow suit.

The freeze is being paid for by savings of 10m in the financial year 2009/2010, which council leader Steve Parnaby called an "outstanding achievement."

Yorkshire