TWO of York's top councillors were today set for a showdown with local government minister Nick Raynsford over the city's proposed 9.3 per cent council tax rise.
City of York is one of the eleven UK authorities summoned to meet Mr Raynsford about the council tax rises they are proposing.
The minister was expected to warn leader Coun Steve Galloway and Quentin Macdonald, executive member for resources, that the 9.3 per cent rise would be capped unless it was lowered.
Mr Raynsford has consistently warned councils they should keep council tax rises down to low single figures.
The city council was one of 65 authorities recently sent a letter warning their proposed rises were too high.
Coun Galloway said he would be stressing to Mr Raynsford that York was one of the lowest spending authorities in the country and was the 13th lowest of the country's 352 billing authorities.
"We will also point out the £3.6m of efficiency savings the council has made in the last few weeks," Coun Galloway said.
Coun Galloway said he planned to make York's case for more money in the 2005/2006 financial year.
A spokeswoman for Mr Raynsford said that any council with a rise above low single figures could potentially be capped.
"That is what has been said all along," she said.
Updated: 10:32 Thursday, February 19, 2004
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