Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
09
Jan
Reform UK attacks Harrogate Town Council’s 105% increase in council tax
Reform UK has raised “serious concerns” over Harrogate Town Council’s decision to increase its council tax charge by 105%.
The amount a Band D household will pay for the town council will increase from £12.73 to £25.78 in 2026/27.
Final council tax bills in Harrogate will be calculated by adding the amounts charged by the town council, North Yorkshire Council and the emergency services. Only the town council’s sum has been decided so far.
The precept increase means the Liberal Democrat-controlled town council will receive £740,000 from Harrogate households — up from £362,000 in 2025/26.
Conservative Cllr Michael Harrison said there was “fat in the budget” when it was approved on Wednesday (January 7).
Reform councillor David Goodall voted against the budget and now the party's Harrogate and Knaresborough branch has issued a statement raising "serious concerns".
It said the scale of the increase was “difficult to justify to residents already facing sustained cost-of-living pressures”.
It added there was a “lack of clarity” over what nearly three-quarters of a million pounds will tangibly deliver for residents, highlighting the “generous contingency fund” and £110,226.50 allocated for new council offices as examples.
Branch chair Jonathan Swales said:
We consider this to be a very large sum of public money for outcomes that remain poorly defined. Residents deserve clear explanations of what this additional money will achieve, how priorities have been set, and how success will be measured.
Claims that the precept remains the lowest among town councils in North Yorkshire do not, on their own, justify doubling the charge in a single year. What matters to residents is value for money, transparency, and financial discipline.
Fifteen of the 19 town councillors are Liberal Democrats. Two are Conservatives, one is an Independent and one is from Reform.
Look for an opinion piece soon by Harrogate mayor Cllr Chris Aldred on why he thinks the town council provides value for money.
0