North Yorkshire County Council plans 4.99 per cent council tax hike

County Hall in Northallerton.

North Yorkshire County Council is planning an an above-inflation rise in council tax.

The county council, which makes up just under 70 per cent of a ratepayer’s bill, is looking to up its share of the precept by 4.99 per cent compared to 2018/19.

The council’s executive will meet on Tuesday next week to vote on the authority’s budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The rise is made up of  a general council tax increase of 2.99 per cent and is supplemented with a 2 per cent social care precept.

A report, which will go before the councillors, states: “A 4.99per cent increase in 2019/20 would cost the average Band D household an additional £62.31 per annum (£5.19 per month or £1.20 per week) in relation to the county council’s element of the overall bill.

“This would result in a Band D level of £1,311.16 in 2019/20.”

The report, by chief executive Richard Flinton and the corporate director of strategic resources Gary Fielding, adds that the council needs to make further swingeing cuts to its budget.

It notes: “By the end of 2018/19 the county council will have delivered £157.4m of savings. It is estimated, however, that a further £40.3m will be required from 2019/20 to 2021/22.

“The aggregate savings requirement of £197.7m broadly equates to a reduction of just under 40% in the council’s spending power
since 2011.

“It is therefore essential that the county council has a sound medium to longer term strategy to address this financial challenge.

“Whilst savings proposals of £26.3m have been identified from 2019/20 to 2021/22, there remains a projected residual shortfall of £14.0m by 2021/22

North Yorkshire County Council gets set to put up its council tax precept.

The county council, which makes up just under 70% of a ratepayer’s bill, is looking to up its share of the precept by 4.99% compared to 2018/19.

The council’s executive will meet on Tuesday next week (29th) to vote on the authority’s budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The rise is made up of  a general council tax increase of 2.99% and
is supplemented with a 2% social care precept.

A report, which will go before the councillors, states: “A 4.99% increase in 2019/20 would cost the average Band D household an additional £62.31 per annum (£5.19 per month or £1.20 per week) in relation to the county council’s element of the overall bill.

“This would result in a Band D level of £1,311.16 in 2019/20.”

The report, by chief executive Richard Flinton and the corporate director of strategic resources Gary Fielding, adds that the council needs to make further swingeing cuts to its budget.

It notes: “By the end of 2018/19 the county council will have delivered £157.4m of savings. It is estimated, however, that a further £40.3m will be required from 2019/20 to 2021/22.

“The aggregate savings requirement of £197.7m broadly equates to a reduction of just under 40% in the council’s spending power
since 2011.

“It is therefore essential that the county council has a sound medium to longer term strategy to address this financial challenge.

“Whilst savings proposals of £26.3m have been identified from 2019/20 to 2021/22, there remains a projected residual shortfall of £14.0m by 2021/22.”

2 Comments

  1. Absolutely ludicrous! That high an increase is not acceptable! Where does our council get the idea that people can afford an increase as high as this – it’s above the inflation rate for goodness sake. Why should council tax payers haveto fund shortfalls created by the way our council operates! Yet another cost for the ‘WORKING POOR’ (and other not so well off people) to have to find from ‘somewhere’ – how about we get someone in to assess the necessity/viability/cost efficiency of every single job in the council offices and get rid of unnecessary costs there instead of constantly hitting council tax payers every year!!! Here’s a suggestion – cancel the £380,000 you intend to WASTE on a bloody bike race that in no way contributes to the council whatsoever.

  2. Instead of hiking council tax how about we get someone into assess the viability and cost efficiency of every job in the council offices and shave the dross off there! Maybe they could shelve the proposed £380,00 for a bike race that benefits no one but the riders themselves, and gives nothing to our council fiscally! This rise is unacceptable and ludicrous – another blow for the working poor!!!

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