Leeds Comes off Worst than rest of West Yorks and other Major Cities

12.00.00am GMT Thu 5th Dec 2002

Councillor Mark Harris, Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Leeds City Council, has described the news that Leeds is only to receive a 5.7% increase in Grants for next year as "bad news for the City and particularly bad news for Council Tax Payers".

Cllr Harris said "Leeds seems to have been particularly badly done by, as a result of this finance settlement. We have received a smaller increase than any of the other West Yorks Authorities, indeed of any of the major english cities outside London."

"The Council was already facing a number of tough decisions over its budget for next year, this will tighten the purse strings even more. Unless the Council takes real and effective action to eliminate waste then Council Tax payers face substantial increases next March."