THIS year’s council tax increase in Nidderdale looks set to be the smallest for 12 years, with Harrogate Council’s cabinet recommending a freeze on its portion of the bill.
Harrogate councillors will vote on the proposed freeze on February 10, wh
ile North Yorkshire County Council is expected to rubber-stamp a 2.94 per cent increase on its proportion of the tax a week later – its lowest rise since 1993.
The fire service is currently considering a two per cent increase on its precept, while the fourth body that receives money from council tax – North Yorkshire Police – finished a consultation about its figure yesterday.
Coun Andrew Jones, Harrogate Council’s cabinet member for resources, said: “We are recommending a council tax freeze, which will not come at the expense of services.
“A number of factors have contributed to a very positive budget, including efficiency savings of £700,000 and good long-term cash control.
“We have also had one element of very good luck - the recent VAT rebate - and one example of effective lobbying for our district, securing an extra grant from the department of transport for concessionary fares.
“That lobbying has delivered a result for the people of the borough.”
If approved on February 10, the budget will see the council repay £3m of long-term debt – 30 per cent of the total it currently owes – while extending its garden and green waste recycling programme to a further 10,000 houses.
The proposed freeze would be the first since 1998, when Harrogate Council’s precept dropped by 12.1 per cent, year on year.
North Yorkshire County Council typically receives about 68 per cent of council tax paid in Harrogate.
If a 2.94 per cent increase in its precept is approved by the council on February 17, it will be its lowest rise for 16 years.
Band D properties would pay £1,057.48 to the county council: a rise of £30.18 annually, or 58p a week.
Coun John Weighell, leader of the county council, said: “It has been our priority to balance the increasing demands being made for our services with the need to keep the council tax as low as possible.
“As more and more people find themselves victims of the economic downturn, they turn to the county council for help and support. It is essential that we are able to offer that vital support, and we cannot do so without making a small increase in the tax we levy.”
The county council says it will cost £10m to repair potholes caused by the snow.
Though it has asked its executive to approve a £1m transfer from the council’s reserves, the authority is also increasing taxation to help fund the work.
Coun Weighell said: “It had been our hope that the increase would be even lower. But the damage caused to the county’s highways by the most extreme weather conditions for 30 years will cost several million pounds to repair.
