Leeds keeps council tax bills at the lowest level of the major cities

12.00.00am GMT Fri 2nd Feb 2007

Commenting on the decision of the council's joint administration to recommend a 4.5% increase in council tax, Cllr Mark Harris leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and executive board member responsible for central and corporate services said:

"Once more we have been able to reduce waste across the council and channel resources into key services such as care for the elderly, education and training as well as road improvements. In this year's budget, departments identified £9 million pounds worth of 'cashable' savings which are crucial for us to be able to provide efficient and effective council services to the public.

"Even so we need to raise additional resources from the council tax payer in order to safeguard key services. As a result those in Band A and Band B properties, the majority of properties across Leeds will face increases of £30 and £35 a year in their council tax, 60p or 70p a week, which we believe offers value for money.

"Indeed compared to other cities across the country such as Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle and Bradford our council tax levels will remain the lowest. Bearing in mind that all those councils receive substantially more central government support for their base costs, that is no mean achievement. In Manchester the government provides funding of £691 for every person in the city, In Birmingham its £582 while in Leeds the figure is only £378. To keep our council tax levels down while protecting key services has been no mean achievement".