East Riding council tax to rise to maximum 4.99%

All councillors except two voted in favour of the council budget

Council tax in East Yorkshire will rise by 4.99%, the maximum allowed without a public vote.

There will also be a 7.7% increase for council housing rents and a 50p-an-hour hike in car parking charges.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council's budget includes £8.3m in savings and a £7.3m increase in income alongside the tax rise.

Councillors also heard £11.6m would be used from the authority's reserves to to cover a £12.7m gap in its budget.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillor Nigel Wilkinson said the tax rise was needed to help keep the council viable and sustainable amid financial challenges.

"We don't operate in isolation, there have been major events outside of our control," he said.

"It's perhaps an understatement to say that 2023 has been a challenging year, many councils around the country have struggled and the East Riding is not immune.

"The increase in council tax is carefully considered, we need to ensure financial resilience and viability."

£100,000 will be spent on restoring grass verges

The budget includes £80,000 to fund trial schemes for 20mph speed limits in a bid to improve safety for children.

An "Imagination Library", where all children receive personalised books every month from birth to age five is being funded with £500,000 to improve literacy.

There will be £500,000 to support community projects while £50,000 has been put towards a flood warden scheme.

Increasing gritting on rural roads and in residential streets will be funded with £225,000, while £100,000 has been set aside to reinstate grass verges.

Councillor Denis Healy, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said once the council's reserves were gone they were gone and the council's financial plans exposed the depth of its position.

"Strong isn't an adjective I'd use to describe the council's financial position," he said.

"Officers have been able to balance the budget but with a sticking plaster they've found in the cupboard."

The budget was backed by all councillors, except two who abstained.