‘Tax Leeds residents more to pay for climate change fund’

As part of the authority’s 2020/21 budget, the ruling Labour group is proposing a council tax increase of 3.99 per cent, the highest increase allowed without holding a referendum with the public.

But Leeds Liberal Democrats leader Coun Stewart Golton has called for the authority to add an extra one per cent on top of the proposed increase to create a ‘ring-fenced’ climate emergency fund, and is prepared to put it to a public vote.

Coun Golton said: “It’s responding to the basic problem – the council does not have the same ambition that the people of Leeds do.

“It’s to show that they have a sense of urgency. For the council to achieve it.”

While he would not be drawn on specifics of the plans, he said such an increase would raise more than £3m, which would go towards the fund and the cost of holding the referendum.

He added the fund could help implement suggestions from last year’s Leeds climate change jury, which outlined ideas such as making it easier to invest in green businesses, introducing a London-style public transport travel card scheme and increased pedestrian areas.

Coun Golton added: “The Leeds climate jury came up with a 12 part plan of improvements – we can provide that fund every year to get those ideas generated.

“I am not anticipating anything – it should be something that is led by the people of Leeds – it’s up to the council to make sure of this.”

Leeds City Council’s budget is expected to be agreed this week, which is set to include more than £28m of cuts, as well as a 3.99 per cent increase in council tax.

When releasing the proposals earlier this month, Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake said ‘tough choices’ had to be made, due to further reductions in government funding, and committed to protecting front-line services.

The proposed Liberal Democrat amendment read that the council should include: “An increase to the strategic budget of £2,945k in respect of the creation of a ring-fenced Climate Emergency Fund.”

This would be paid for by: “an increase of 1 per cent in the basic amount of council tax to generate funding to meet an increase of £3,220,000 in the Council Tax Requirement, subject to the requirement for a local referendum.”

The remainder of the £3.22m, the amendment says, would go towards the cost of holding the referendum.