YORK council leader Rod Hills today hit back at claims of inefficiency as criticism grew over this year's budget plans.

Coun Hills said leader of the opposition Steve Galloway was trying to score political points by urging the council to find new ways to save money.

Coun Galloway spoke out after revealing that city residents were to be hit with a 9.5 per cent hike in council tax.

He said: "We will be proposing that the council switches its attention to saving money.

"Changing the culture and focus of management is a way to save money. Reducing absenteeism could save millions each year.

"Even modest savings can lead to hundreds of thousands of pounds."

The Liberal Democrats, in a shadow executive meeting, attacked the council tax rise and also blasted proposed service cuts.

They said the budget, which will be finalised on February 21, would mean:

- In education: No money to replace Dunnington School's temporary classroom

- In health: Inadequate provision to address bed-blocking

- In social services: Treating Hebden Rise closure as a budget saving

- In transport: A £250,000 cut in the road and footpath maintenance budget.

But Coun Hills rejected all the criticisms claiming they were inaccurate.

"On bed-blocking we have always said, if more money is needed, we will find it. The provision is adequate," he said,

"There is a long-term hope to replace Hebden Rise with a more modern facility. On footpaths we have actively provided more. And the Liberals know Dunnington School is a capital cost. These comments show someone who has no knowledge of running a council. It is just platitudes.

"He (Galloway) is not giving any idea of what we should be doing.

"If he has any sensible ideas then we will listen to them. But making platitudes doesn't solve the problems.

"We have made considerable savings and are building upon them."

The council tax increase will see the bills of average Band D city centre properties rise by £75.68 from their current levels of £790.65 a year.

Coun Galloway warned that the percentage rise would reach double figures when the police precept is added. A 30 per cent increase in the police precept will take the overall council tax rise to more than ten per cent, he said.

But York council tax is low compared with that of other North Yorkshire areas. The city is currently ranked seventh out of eight for Band D prices with only people in Hambleton paying less.

In Harrogate, the average Band D council tax bill last year stood at £872.97.

Updated: 11:35 Thursday, January 31, 2002