THIS year's council tax increase in Harrogate 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, while 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 servi
ce 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.”
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.
Knaresborough Town Council is increasing the parish precept (the town council’s part of the council tax) by 2.8% next year. This will increase the amount paid by an average band D property by 42p a year.
The leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, Coun Kevin Hawkins, said: “Knaresborough will continue to have the lowest parish precept of any town council in North Yorkshire.
“For example, band D residents in Boroughbridge this year paid £24.09, and in Ripon £21.04, whereas in Knaresborough the amount next year will be only £15.59.”
The new rates come into force in April this year.
North Yorkshire County Council typically receives around 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 throughout the budget consultation process 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.
