Council taxpayers '˜could be hit with £200 rise'

COUNCIL taxpayers in part of Yorkshire could be hit by a swingeing 17 per cent tax rise over the next five years, partly to pay for the increasing cost of adult social care.
Independent Andy StrangewayIndependent Andy Strangeway
Independent Andy Strangeway

East Riding Council meets on Thursday to set a proposed council tax of 4.99 per cent this year.

However under its financial plan, it could rise in 2018-19 by another 4.99 per cent, followed by a 1.99 per cent increase in 2019-20 - the year of council elections.

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The following year, a 3.99 per cent rise is forecast - equating to a £213 rise by 2020/2021 for the council tax part of the bill - excluding fire and police - for a Band D ratepayer.

Council leader Coun Steve Parnaby said: “The proposed increase in precepts will go part of the way to addressing the huge pressures the council faces to meet increasing adult social care demand but, with an ageing population, there is still a large shortfall in the financial support.”

The increases come against a backdrop of ever-decreasing Government funding, with the council having to make £48m savings by 2020/2021, even with the rises.

Independent councillor Andy Strangeway said he would not be supporting the budget, partly because the lowest rise will be in 2019, the year of council elections. He said: “I would go for 3.99 per cent each year. This is an attempt to buy votes in the third year. It’s not acceptable.”

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Coun Ros Jump, who represents Cottingham North, said she would support it “extremely reluctantly.”

She said: “This is a blunt instrument approach. You are penalising people who are just managing to keep their heads above water.”

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