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This section contains recent press releases issued by Parliamentary Spokesman Cllr Andrew Jones. Choose a press release to view from the list on the left. The most current press release is below.
Council Tax Freeze Plus More Debt Repaid, Harrogate Council’s Cabinet Member For Finance Confirms
Council tax payers across the Harrogate District will face a zero per cent rise in bills from Harrogate Borough Council, the Council’s cabinet member for finances has confirmed.
As well as the tax freeze, the authority is also tackling its debts, having repaid £2 million of borrowings this year.
And this year’s budget, which was passed by a meeting of the Full Council last night (February 10), also delivered no service cuts but rather an expansion of the recycling service with a spend of £430,000 to expand the green waste recycling service, taking it to a further 10,000 homes.
Coun Andrew Jones (Con, High Harrogate) said: “This year’s budget is good news for the District’s council tax payers.
“Through careful management of the council’s finances over this, and previous years of Conservative control, we have been to identify and implement a large number of efficiencies and cut down on waste.
“Unlike the Government which is up to its neck in debt, this year we have been able to repay £2 million. In the next financial year we will pay off a further £3 million. I want to see Harrogate Council totally debt free.
“We have made good progress on efficiency within the council. Already the total saving to date since the Conservative’s took power has been in excess of £5 million.”
Coun Jones, who is standing as the Conservative candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough at the forthcoming general election, added: “Our efficiency savings have delivered important benefits for our area. The best example is the saving of Starbeck Baths, delivered from efficiency savings.”
Coun Jones concluded: “During the last three years that the Liberal Democrats were in charge of Harrogate Council they increased Council Tax by an average of 8.9 per cent each year.
“And Liberal Democrat controlled Knaresborough Town Council is increasing its Parish Tax by 2.8 per cent this year.
“By taking a more businesslike approach to our finances we have proved we can keep a lid on council tax rises without cutting back on the services we provide the district.
“I was pleased to see the Liberal Democrats support this budget too.”
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