COUNCIL tax bills are on course to rise in York, after senior councillors backed a budget deal for the year ahead.

The three percent council tax increase was supported alongside a raft of funding cuts that will wipe £6.5million off council bills in the coming year.

Cuts are being made across all the council departments, with bus subsidies in the firing line along with parks maintenance, but campaigners have voiced concern about prevention and early intervention services in children's services.

Both the Conservative leader Chris Steward and Li- Dem deputy leader Keith Aspden said the council tax plan was the “right balance” – but the council’s Unison representative Andrea Dudding said implementing the biggest increase possible – of four percent – would mitigate the ongoing cuts.

However Cllr Steward said it was right for the council to try and keep bills down for local residents.