UNPOPULAR plans to close a lifeline for York's elderly have been shelved by the city's Labour group.

Final proposals, to be considered at City of York Council's budget meeting on Thursday, do not include earlier suggestions that Age Concern's day centre in Lincoln Court, Ascot Way, Acomb, should be closed.

It had been seen as a way to plug part of the council's budget shortfall of more than £4 million.

But it had been strongly opposed by Age Concern, which said without it many elderly members of York's public would lose a vital part of their social life.

The council last week also announced that plans to cut the dog wardening service had also been dropped after Liberal Democrat MPs launched a campaign to oppose it.

Meanwhile, an expected increase in council tax of 9.5 per cent has been reduced to 7.8 per cent after about £1.5 million was discovered.

The cash was found following an overestimate in the number of pupils who need to be funded through York's schools, and an underestimate of the amount of council tax that would be collected.

After the police precept is added, an average Band D house will pay £873.98, compared with £790.65 last year.

Parish council precepts, where applicable, are yet to be added.

Updated: 11:44 Monday, February 18, 2002