East Yorkshire council tax to be frozen (From York Press)

East Yorkshire council tax to be frozen

5:44pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News

COUNCILLORS in East Yorkshire have voted not to increase council tax bills next year.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s element of tax levels will be pegged for the third year in a row in 2012/13 following a special meeting of the authority today, with a £3.6 million Government grant being used to plug the gap.

The council will still have to save an extra £2.2 million to cater for the freeze council tax, as it faces up to meeting an overall three-year savings target of £43 million. It has said it is on target to cut £9.4 million from its 2011/12 budget, and council leader Stephen Parnaby said: “I am very pleased we have again been able to freeze our charge.

“This is the right thing to do and a recognition that council tax is a significant outlay. I believe it is fairer for people to pay for any cost increases in services they use, which we have generally kept in line with inflation, rather than hitting everybody with a higher council tax bill.”

The authority says its budget plans do not involve closing facilities such as libraries and leisure centres and it will continue to spend £22 million a year on the voluntary and community sector. Final council tax levels will be fixed on February 22 after Humberside Police and Fire Authorities set their separate precepts.