Hull City Council says it is set to make ‘huge investments’ including key road projects, CCTV, mental health support, a new volunteer support fund and more
Hull City Council has proposed increasing council tax by 4.99%(Image: Getty Images)
Council tax in Hull could rise by almost 5 per cent this year. Hull City Council has put forward a budget proposal to increase the charge by 4.99 per cent comprising of a 2.99 per cent rise for general services along with 2 per cent for the adult social care precept.
The council says it is planning “huge investments focused on making Hull cleaner, safer and welcoming” including a further £300,000 for CCTV cameras and £200,000 towards road safety cameras. There is also set to be a new £250,000-a-year fund for improvements to roads and footpaths working alongside the Love Your Neighbourhood scheme.
Meanwhile, a £1m investment in the city’s parks is proposed along with funding towards the historic Victoria Pier. In terms of roads, the authority specifically mentions a commitment to developing Calvert Lane to get it moving and “make it easier for people to go about their lives”. It also says there will be funding to speed up repairs at Sculcoates Bridge (also known as Chapman Street Bridge).
The authority previously increased council tax by the same percentage a year ago. The latest proposed rise would see those in Band A properties, the lowest level, pay an extra £59.36 a year while those in Band D homes would pay an additional £89.04.
These figures do not include the charges for police and fire services. It was announced this week that the police precept in the Humberside force area is set to increase by 6.3 per cent, meaning Band D households will pay £18.49 more a year.
For the first time, the council will offer a 100 per cent discount to residents with less than a year to live due to a terminal illness. Discounts are also proposed for care leavers and veterans.
Council leader Cllr Mike Ross said: “2026 is a landmark year for delivering a better city for the people of Hull. We’ve set out a proposed budget which includes investment to fix more potholes, clean more streets and better tackle crime.
“People in the city will benefit from the completion of major projects, whilst we’ll also continue to concentrate on delivering the everyday services that residents rely on to feel proud of where they live. We’re proposing huge investments focused on making Hull cleaner, safer and welcoming.”
In addition to the other initiatives mentioned, the council added the budget proposals include “continued investment to maintain free bulky waste collections and Bring Out Your Rubbish days, in addition to the vital work carried out by dedicated tree management and gully cleansing teams”. They also feature a “continuation for future years of the Crime Prevention Fund, which has seen over 150 projects awarded funding to make Hull safer”.
There is also set to be “the development of a brand-new ‘community volunteer support fund’, which would support cultural offers designed to bring people together, and connect residents to their communities”. A new Hull innovation fund is proposed too, which will allow the council to “flexibility fund projects throughout the year as and when opportunities arise to benefit people across the city”.
Meanwhile, an extra £1.5-million is proposed to be put into adult social care which will allow for a “transformation of the service, including the building of an occupational therapist team”. New funding is also planned to support the establishment of a mental health support hub and cash to support homeless people across the city.