Ilkley residents will pay an extra 9.99% Council Tax from April after the coming year’s Bradford Council budget was approved.
At the meeting on Thursday evening, the budget, which includes millions of pounds worth of cuts as well as the Council Tax rise, was voted through - 46 votes in favour, 39 against and 1 abstention.
All three district councillors for Ilkley and Ben Rhydding voted against: Cllr Andrew Loy and Cllr David Nunns (Conservatives), and Cllr Ros Green (Green).
In January the Government granted permission for a 9.99% increase in council tax in Bradford District for 2025/26. The council says the rise would reduce required borrowing costs by about £5.5m a year, avoiding £111 million of borrowing costs for the Bradford council taxpayer over 20 years and helping to protect services.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said:
“We are trying wherever possible to find new ways of working and new funding sources so that we can save money for council taxpayers without cutting vital services. But by increasing council tax now, in many cases by £2 or £3 a week, we can avoid significant borrowing costs of £111 million for Bradford council taxpayers over the next 20 years and protect services in the longer term.”