A council tax freeze to please officials ‘with long memories’

East Riding Council is to take advantage of a Government grant to allow them to freeze the bills. In October Chancellor George Osborne pledged £450m support to councils to extend the freeze in 2013/14 – a deal 85 per cent of councils accepted last year.

East Riding council leader Steve Parnaby said the tax could be frozen while keeping council job losses at a minimum and safeguarding services.

“It’s not easy but we can manage it financially and quite frankly if you refuse this assistance from the Government if they don’t get you this way, they will get you another way,” he said.

“When there’s grant money, pilot schemes around and when money does become available, the Government does have long memories. They remember those who comply with their wishes and those who don’t. Despite what people think they do provide most of the money for local services – they still provide 60 per cent of the money we spend.”

Coun Parnaby said cuts to benefits meant a lot of vulnerable people would be worse off. Some face paying council tax at £80 a year for the first time.

“Certainly a lot of vulnerable people will be worse off but I am sure in fairness the vast majority will be pleased council tax is frozen again.”

At neighbouring Hull Council a senior councillor, Daren Hale, has said the tax may have to go up to help ease the squeeze on budgets. A spokeswoman said if it was to rise it would be only up to 1.99 per cent.