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22
Oct
Consultation opens on how council should spend its £1.3bn budget
Residents are being encouraged to have their say on how North Yorkshire Council allocates its budget.
The authority yesterday (October 21) launched a public consultation for local people to comment on how its £1.3 billion budget should be spent in 2025/26.
The survey asks which services should be prioritised — and whether they would agree to another council tax hike.
The council is now in its second year of delivering county-wide services after the formation of the unitary authority last year.
Conservative council leader Carl Les said:
Like most councils we continue to face major financial challenges and a huge demand for support for our critical services including those for children and young people with special educational needs and adult social care.
We are inviting our residents and businesses to give us their views on how we should allocate our resources, we urge them to take part and have a say in a very important consultation for the county.
£28 million shortfall
Currently 50% of the council's budget goes towards helping vulnerable people — with the largest amount at 32 per cent going on adult social care and health
Highways and transport get nine per cent, housing five per cent and education six per cent.
Council deputy leader and finance spokesperson Gareth Dadd said:
Our finances are managed well but we cannot rule out tough decisions going forward. We start next year with a £28 million shortfall and that will rise to £48 million within a year, despite reorganisation savings.
We have significant pressure in adult and children’s services where demand is increasing and prices are rocketing in some areas. Our current forecast is an overspend of £9 million impacted by the rise in education health and care plans, transport costs and complex cases.
The consultation invites people to share which council services are important to them. This includes affordable housing, promoting health and wellbeing, education and social care support, environment, local economy and transport.
People will also be asked if they would be prepared to pay more council tax.
The council today said last year’s survey revealed 8 out of 10 people would support a rise in council tax to help deliver critical services.
22% reportedly said they would pay a 1% rise in council tax, with the same proportion supporting a 2% increase.
But 20% of last year’s respondents did not want to pay more council tax, the council added.
You can complete the consultation here. All surveys must be completed by December 9.
A paper copy can be collected from local libraries or council offices and returned in the envelope provided.
Residents can also email letstalk@northyorks.gov.uk or call 0300 131 2 131 and say ‘let’s talk’ to request the survey.
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