Plans to invest in social care and York’s economy get the go ahead

Proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrat and Green Partnership, to stabilise Council’s financial position and invest in social care and city’s economic recovery, have been given the go ahead following agreement at Full Council this evening (17 February).

This follows the defeat of opposition amendments, which would have seen waste charges increase, highway’s maintenance budgets cut, and frontline services and social care delivery endangered.

The 2022/23 budget will see an unprecedented £9.2million investment in children and adult social care and extra targeted support to ease the cost of living crisis, including a fuel voucher scheme, mental health support, pupil catch up programmes and extended financial assistance schemes through the Covid Recovery Fund.

Whilst the transformational £459m capital investment programme will continue key city regeneration projects, improve the city’s road network and infrastructure, build two new community libraries, tackle the climate emergency, accelerate the delivery of flood defences and deliver affordable housing across the city.

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

“Despite York remaining at the bottom of central Government spending tables, and many other Labour and Conservative councils preparing for significant cuts, this administration is putting residents and communities first and continuing investment in key services.

“We’re increasing support for adult social care and children and young people, continuing our ambitious programme to tackle climate change and accelerate the city’s recovery, all whilst investing additional resources to support residents on the lowest incomes, who are facing a cost of living crisis and the tax bombshell passed on to them by the Government.

“This evenings budget meeting made clear is that it is only the Liberal Democrats in York with a clear plan on how to deliver on residents priorities and protect services, which are needed now more than ever.”