Bradford: 10% council tax increase approved amid protest chaos
Plans to raise council tax by 10% were approved at a Bradford Council meeting which was disrupted by protests.West Yorkshire Police had to be called to escort demonstrators from City Hall following "chaotic" scenes.The annual budget meeting had to be suspended just minutes in when protesters in the public gallery began chanting phrases such as "not a penny more".The gathering resumed an hour later and the Labour-controlled council agreed to approve the increase by a margin of six votes.
More than 100 people had gathered outside the venue to object to the tax hike before the meeting started.Labour councillor Jon Wheatley voted against his party's savings plan and said he could not support the rise while urging the government to help underfunded local authorities.The contentious budget came at a time when Bradford Council's finances remain in a perilous state.Last year, the government granted the authority permission to borrow money to fund its services.Over the next few years, 20p in every pound of the council's income will go towards paying off debts.Disruption to the meeting started soon after Lord Mayor Bev Mullaney had opened proceedings, but before any debate had begun.After warnings to stop shouting and allow the meeting to continue were ignored, security were called, with some scuffles breaking out.Police eventually issued a dispersal order and removed a dozen people.
The council had argued that the increase in council tax would mean less borrowing was needed in the long term and leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the authority was "stuck between a rock and a hard place".Hitting out at opposition parties for offering up no credible alternatives, she added: "If you were truthful you'd admit there is no other way forward. If you vote against this you don't have the guts to tell the truth to the people you represent."Addressing claims that spending on projects such as Bradford Live and One City Park had led to the financial crisis, Hinchcliffe said: "It is children and adult social care that is the pressure, not regeneration."The Green Party was the only party to put forward an alternative budget, which they said would bring the required council tax rise down to 9.4 per cent, only slightly below the proposed amount.However when it came to the vote, the Greens all abstained on their own document - while other councillors voted it down.Leader of the Greens Matt Edwards said Labour had ignored financial warning signs for years, claiming the leadership "fiddled while Rome burns".He added: "Bradford is in a worse financial position that almost anywhere in this country."Although the Conservatives did not present an alternative budget, their finance spokesman councillor Mike Pollard had suggested selling the One City Park development and scrapping plans for a new swimming pool at Squire Lane could reduce the council tax burden on Bradford residents.However the Tories were accused by the council leader of being unable to celebrate any investment in Bradford. "You don't want us to succeed," Hinchcliffe said.Liberal Democrat leader councillor Brendan Stubbs said: "Today is another dark day for the people of Bradford."A budget in front of us that heaps huge pressure on residents, a budget that barely papers over the financial disaster this Labour executive has caused. A budget that doesn't even come close to fixing the mess."Rizwan Saleem, from the Independent group, described the tax hike as a "knockout blow after continuous jabs year after year" for taxpayers.Hinchcliffe thanked councillors for the robust debate, but criticised those who just "oppose, oppose, oppose" and "offer no solutions, no new ideas".She added there was "no room for heroes" in making difficult decisions."We have to be the adults in the room – we have to keep services sustained for local people. Residents expect us to do our duty and not dodge difficult decisions," she insisted.When it came to the vote, 46 councillors voted in favour of the Labour budget and 39 against, with one abstention. The higher rate taxes will come in from April, with those in a Band D property expecting to pay around £170 a year more on their bills.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds and catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rachel Reeves to announce £8BILLION over ten years to fix crumbling flood defences
is set to announce nearly £8 billion for flood defences in a ten-year infrastructure pledge. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses will see better protections over the next decade, ministers have said. It will be part of £725 billion in capital spending on the country's infrastructure, about half of which is new promised money. The Chancellor will unveil the plan this week alongside Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in a bid to offer certainty for businesses. It will cover transport, housing and public services. About half of the £725 billion was allocated in last week's Spending Review, and the new part is a 'commitment' for the following five years – funded through borrowing. The flooding money will be used to build new defences and repair existing ones, as well as planting more trees to absorb water. It will be targeted at regions badly impacted by floods, including Yorkshire and the Midlands. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said Labour 'inherited crumbling flood defences', adding: 'This Government is taking urgent action with the largest flooding programme in our country's history.' Ms Reeves said a lack of investment in infrastructure has been ' holding back communities and stunting economic growth', adding: 'We are investing in Britain's future, brick by brick, road by road and track by track.' The Centre for Policy Studies said public spending had rocketed since pre-Covid levels to the equivalent of £24,095 per adult. Health spending will reach £4,056 per adult by 2028-29 – a 22 per cent real-terms rise since before the pandemic. A spokesman described the levels of state spending as 'not sustainable'.
Wales Online
3 hours ago
- Wales Online
DWP offers payment worth £812 but warns you must repay it by cut-off date
DWP offers payment worth £812 but warns you must repay it by cut-off date The payment is usually sent out in November or December to help with fuel costs during the colder months The government will vote on making the Winter Fuel Payment means tested (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ) Previously, Winter Fuel Payments were universally distributed to everyone over state pension age. However, following its election victory last year the new Labour-led UK government declared it would begin means-testing these payments, limiting them to those on benefits and Pension Credit as a cost-saving measure. This decision was widely condemned for targeting some of the most vulnerable individuals and was believed to have contributed to the party's poor performance in the local elections. In recent weeks the government has partially reversed its stance, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirming that more pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Allowance this year although it will not be universal. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here At a press conference, Ms Reeves told reporters that 'more people will get Winter Fuel Payment this winter' adding that further details would be announced 'as soon as we possibly can.' What changes are being implemented under the new rules? The modifications, officially announced on Monday, June 9, will enable all pensioners in England and Wales earning £35,000 a year or less to receive a Winter Fuel Payment. This expands eligibility to the vast majority of pensioners, with approximately nine million or over three-quarters benefitting according to ministers. Article continues below This change will cost around £1.25 billion in England and Wales and the Winter Fuel Payment is expected to save around £450 million compared to a universal system, subject to certification by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These figures will be reflected in the next Budget and OBR forecast. The payment of £200 per household, or £300 for households with someone over 80, will be automatically made this winter. Over 12 million pensioners across the UK will also benefit from the Triple Lock, with their State Pension set to increase by up to £1,900 during this parliament. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Targeting Winter Fuel Payments was a tough decision but the right decision because of the inheritance we had been left by the previous government. It is also right that we continue to means-test this payment so that it is targeted and fair rather than restoring eligibility to everyone including the wealthiest. 'But we have now acted to expand the eligibility of the Winter Fuel Payment so no pensioner on a lower income will miss out. This will mean over three-quarters of pensioners receiving the payment in England and Wales later this winter.' Reeves elaborated further, stating that pensioners earning above the £35,000 threshold, about two million individuals, will automatically repay the Winter Fuel Payment through PAYE or their self-assessment tax return. They will not need to take any action unless they choose to opt out of receiving the payment altogether, which will be possible later this year. Budgeting Loans If you're applying for a Budgeting Loan, separate from the Winter Fuel Payment, this must be repaid, though it is interest-free so you only pay back what you borrow. The repayments are automatically taken from your benefits and the amount you repay depends on your income including any benefits and what you can afford. After you apply, you'll get an email, text or letter telling you if you've been offered a loan and this will explain how much your weekly repayments will be if you accept it. You normally have to repay the loan within two years (104 weeks). The maximum loan amount is £812 for a couple with children. Article continues below
STV News
4 hours ago
- STV News
PM announces national inquiry into grooming gangs scandal
Sir Keir Starmer has announced the government will launch a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal, despite resisting calls for one for months. It comes after the government commissioned a review into the scandal by Baroness Louise Casey, which has recommended a national inquiry and is due to be published in full next week. The prime minister told reporters as he travelled to the G7 summit in Canada: 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. That is the right thing to do.' Since the scandal became a point of fierce political discussion earlier this year, the government has repeatedly insisted there was no need for a national inquiry, instead launching five locally-led investigations. The prime minister had previously argued another inquiry would delay justice for the victims of the scandal, saying the government wanted to get on with implementing the recommendations of a 2022 inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to carry out a 'rapid' national audit on the scandal. / Credit: James Manning/PA 'From the start I have always said that we should implement the recommendations we have got,' the PM told reporters. 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue – I had wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry, that's why I asked Louise Casey, who I hugely respect, to do an audit.' Pressed on the detail of the inquiry, the PM said: 'It will be statutory under the inquiries act, that will take a bit of time to sort out exactly how that works and we will set that out in an orderly way.' Debate around tackling grooming gangs raged earlier this year after tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk began attacking Sir Keir Starmer and his government, accusing them of being 'complicit' in the scandal. Both the Conservatives and Reform UK have repeatedly called for a national inquiry into the scandal. Starmer previously accused Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch of 'jumping on the bandwagon', by calling for a national investigation. The Conservatives had tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that was due to be voted on in Parliament next week, calling for the government to set up a national statutory inquiry within three months. In response to the announcement on a statutory inquiry Badenoch said: 'Keir Starmer doesn't know what he thinks unless an official report has told him so. 'Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to u-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make this correct decision here. 'I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months.' The government had previously argued that there had already been a national inquiry into the grooming gangs, referring to the 2022 Jay Inquiry into child sex abuse. Debate around grooming gangs was reignited this year after tech billionaire Elon Musk attacked Starmer and his government. / Credit: AP The Jay inquiry described the sexual abuse of children as an 'epidemic that leaves tens of thousands of victims in its poisonous wake'. It looked into abuse by organised groups following multiple convictions of sexual offences against children across the UK between 2010-2014, including in Rotherham, Cornwall, Derbyshire, Rochdale and Bristol. In November last year, Professor Jay said she felt 'frustrated' that none of the probe's 20 recommendations had been implemented more than two years after its conclusion. Reports in The Times newspaper suggest the Casey review will say that white British girls who were targeted by grooming gangs were 'institutionally ignored for fear of racism'. The Casey audit was originally due to take three months from when it was announced in January. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
