Councillors have agreed to increase East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s part of the council tax charge by 3.99% for the 2022/23 financial year.
At a special Full Council meeting, councillors voted to increase the general part of the council tax bill by 1.99% and to increase by a further 2% for adult social care.
Recognising the growing cost of adult social care, the Government has allowed those local authorities with adult social care responsibilities that didn’t use the full permitted increase to council tax for adult social care last year to carry forward the unused increase to this year. The council has therefore brought forward its unused 1% as part of this year’s increase to help fund the largest increase to adult social care ongoing costs that it has faced in any single year, which will help to support the recruitment and retention of essential care workers for vulnerable people across the East Riding.
The council’s part of the council tax bill will result in a monthly increase of £5.17 for Band D properties but there are also additional charges to be taken into account from Humberside Police, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as well as town and parish councils, which are determined separately.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also put a strain on the council’s finances and savings of £7.4million need to be made from the 2022/23 budget, not only to absorb that impact but also to meet the growing costs of delivering services.
Unveiling his financial plans for 2022/23, Councillor Jonathan Owen, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council revealed that net spending requirements could increase by £57million over the next four years as a result of forecast budget pressures of £90million, off-set by savings of £33million. But he promised that, despite the pressures of rising inflation, a challenging employment market and the increased costs of adult social care, investment in the council’s key corporate priorities would continue including £1million over three years allocated to support the Council’s response to climate change as well as providing an extra 100 new electric vehicle charging points over the next 18 months while looking at how new technology can help improve services and connect more with residents. Cllr Owen said: “This budget is a positive move forward, in uncertain times, to protect services, support our care markets, support the economy but above all to work more closely with our communities.“I look forward to developing our climate change strategies, accelerating previous commitments around affordable housing provision, progressing our devolution plans with the Government.“This year will be a progressive and exciting year for our residents as we rebuild our confidence in East Riding as a place to live, work and thrive.”
