York council tax set to rise by 4.99% with parking and other charges to soar

City of York Council is set to increase its share of the council tax bill by 4.99%.

And all the fees it charges – from parking to use of the crematorium – will go up by the rate of inflation, which was 10.7% in November.

The council says it faces “unprecedented pressures, with rising energy, fuel and food prices, and inflation putting significant pressure on service delivery”.

These increases means it facing £8 million more costs than previously expected.

The council proposes a basic council tax increase of 2.99% in 2023/24, “in order to ensure crucial services can continue to be delivered”.

It also plans an additional increase of 2% for the social care precept “which will provide critical financial support for increasing adult social care responsibilities.

“This would still leave the average York council tax bill over £100 cheaper for residents each year compared to the national average.”

The Lib Dem group, which rules the council in coalition with the Greens, says government funding for City of York Council has been cut by half since 2015/16 – with settlement funding falling from £53 million to £26 million in real terms.

They say these cuts mean the council has £706 to spend per resident, 45% lower than Kensington & Chelsea at £1,305 per person.

Under the budget, York council will spend:

• £250k to provide additional support to financially vulnerable residents facing the current Cost of Living Crisis
• £250k to allow local wards to invest directly in improvements to local communities, form installing new benches to repairing local roads
• £150k to improve community safety, tackling anti-social behaviour hotspots, including through funding of specialist youth support workers.

Executive member for finance and performance Cllr Nigel Ayre said: “The impacts of the pandemic, rising costs and increasing demand for services, as well as the Government’s failure to provide what councils need to respond to these challenges, has meant that, as other councils across the country, we are left facing tough decisions.

“This budget looks to stabilise our financial position in what is an extremely uncertain and turbulent financial time, whilst continuing to provide essential services to our local communities.

“Despite the national financial challenges we are increasing spending on adult social care to support the most vulnerable, investing to support children and young people, protecting frontline services and supporting those facing most dire financial difficulties during this cost of living crisis.”

The budget proposals for 2023/24 will be presented to the Executive Member for Finance and Performance on 12 January, the Council Executive on 9 of February and then debated at Full Council on the 23 February.