Prices set to rise for council services

Hull Council's cabinet meets later this month to decide whether to back proposals to increase fees by a minimum of inflation plus one per cent.

The increases could apply from everything from parking to using a leisure centre.

Council leader Carl Minns said: "The council runs some services which are effectively commercial, business units, theatres, leisure centres and you'd expect to have a realistic market rate for people wanting to use them.

"There are other areas where social issues would have to be taken into consideration – for example adult care."

However, Labour leader Steve Brady said: "This is local taxation by stealth, rather than being open and honest about it. This is just the start of tough times to come."

According to the latest figures, Hull Council has a gross income of more than 41m from charges and fees – but the figure doesn't include outgoings.

Building control and planning brings in over 1m, cemeteries and crematoria over 1.5m and taxi inspections 130,000. The biggest earner is residential care at nearly 11m.

Parking charges brought in a hefty 3.9m. Seven managed workspaces for small and start- up businesses took in 715,000 in rent.

There will be provision for heads of service to argue for a lower increase if there are "demonstrable factors" which could, for example, have a negative impact on the number of people using a service.

The rate of inflation being used is the consumer price index which stood at 3.1 per cent in August.

The new charges will apply from next April.