City council tax set to rise by 4.99% this year

Hull City Council has approved a 4.99% rise in council tax from April.

The increase includes 2% towards adult social services and 2.99% towards general council costs. It means a typical Band D household will pay an extra £108.91 a year.

Rent for council properties will also rise by 4.8% despite the Labour opposition voting against the move after their amendment to freeze rents was defeated.

Council leader Mike Ross said: "It [the budget] sets realistic goals and focuses on providing the everyday services that residents rely on to feel proud of where they live."

He added: "I'm really pleased that we can now get on with delivering our proposals, and that we have set a budget which does not require any cuts to service or staff."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the budget was passed by 53 votes to one.

The budget plan also included funding commitments to a number of projects across the city including at Victoria Pier, Freetown Way and Albion Square.

The council said the plan would also provide tax relief to the terminally ill, veterans and young people leaving care.

It will also spend a further £300,000 on CCTV cameras and another £200,000 for road safety cameras.

Opposition leader Daren Hale pointed to the Government's Fair Funding reforms, which see Hull City Council getting more funding from central government than previously.

"It's been very easy for the Lib Dems to settle this budget because of the huge amount of increases given by the government," he said.

Hale added that while the funding is still "not enough" it is "a step in the right direction."

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