Plans to slash price of school meals

Council leader Steve Brady said they weren’t promising anything “spectacular”, but did not anticipate any more voluntary redundancies at the council, which last year shed 1,000 jobs.

As announced in the summer, Labour will be giving £5m towards infrastructure associated with the Siemens wind turbine factory development in Hull, such as re-routing the current right of way along the waterfront.

Schools have been offered a 60p price cut on the cost of primary school meals, which were due to go up to £1.60 on February 1.

Another £1.2m will be spent on a rent freeze and an extra £75,000 will be spent on the city’s flagship music service.

There will also be a 10 per cent rise in funding to youth services.

Coun Brady said they had taken £1.9m from the Government to freeze council tax bills: “If you look at us and Doncaster when they are looking at a four per cent reduction in salary right across the board and are looking probably at strike action and general problems that are not conducive to good services, at least there is stability in Hull.”

He added: “I think we have proved we can stay within budget and our targets for next year are realistic but we are not telling people it’s a bed of roses because it isn’t.

“The Government have already made it clear that there are billions to be saved above what they have announced from 2015 onwards.”

Deputy group leader of the Liberal Democrats Coun Mike Ross said he had not yet seen the detailed proposals, but said: “Free school meals were Labour’s flagship policy – we welcome the fact that they have finally realised that the schools decide the price of school meals not the council. It is a pity it has taken them so long.”

The budget will be set at a meeting next month.