Council Budget approved: Investment in York’s communities despite unprecedented financial challenges

Proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrat and Green Partnership, to invest in social care and communities, have been given the go-ahead following agreement at Full Council this evening (23 February).

The plans will see £19 million invested, particularly in adult and children social care, with further targeted support provided for local communities facing the cost-of-living crisis and to help address lingering issues from the pandemic, such as mental health support, community safety, local area improvements and bus service recovery.

Labour group’s amendment, which was rejected by councillors, amounted to only £190k or 0.07% of the revenue budget, and was branded as ‘devoid of ideas and vision for the city’.

The Council would also continue its transformational £480m capital investment programme to continue key city regeneration projects, improve the city’s road network and infrastructure, tackle the climate emergency, accelerate the delivery of flood defences and affordable housing.

Despite the Government passing on a Tax bombshell to local residents through increases in regressive and outdated council taxation, the proposals approved, still means that York’s Council Tax is amongst the lowest regionally and nationally - over £100 less each year compared to national average.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council, commented:

“The financial reality facing councils is becoming increasingly challenging, as this Government fails to live up to their promises of fixing social care and supporting local services as inflation spirals. Instead, they have chosen to pass on a tax bombshell to the public by forcing councils to rise council tax to sustain crucial service delivery.

“The budget will ensure we can continue to provide the services which matter most to York’s residents, from protecting the most vulnerable in our city, investing in our communities, delivering affordable homes, fixing the city’s roads and investing in York’s future, as well as addressing the most pressuring challenges of today providing cost of living support and funding to address local safety concerns.”

Commenting on the Labour group’s amendment, Councillor Nigel Ayre added:

“Labour might talk a good game about change, yet when they have the opportunity to put their ideas forward, all they have to offer is a cut in a direct community priority investment pot that could deliver benches, road improvements and local grants to community groups. Theirs was an amendment written on the back of a matchbox showing just how devoid of ideas and vision for the city the Labour group are.

“Having supported 99.93% of our budget, Labour's amendments, that add up to a total of £190k of change, are just a smokescreen for their lack of alternative plans. We are happy to take this latest showing by the Labour group as a vote of confidence in our budget proposals and we look forward to their support in delivering the priorities of a Liberal Democrat administration for the next 4 years.”