HAMBLETON District Council cabinet has recommended to full council that council tax should be frozen for residents.

At a meeting of cabinet held on Tuesday, cabinet members considered whether to support increasing the amount of council tax residents pay for services for the forthcoming year, or whether to support freezing the rates.

At the virtual meeting, cabinet agreed unanimously to recommend that the freeze is supported and agreed by full council at a meeting set to take place on February 23.

It is usual for council tax to increase year on year but due to the unprecedented strain this year has put on people financially, HDC felt it was only right to consider keeping the rate the same.

Leader of Hambleton District Council Cllr Mark Robson said: “In these unique and difficult times, it is clear to me cabinet is looking to support our residents by recommending the council tax freeze to full council.

“This recommendation will now be considered and discussed by full council later this month.

"If council agrees to freeze council tax for the forthcoming year, residents will see no increase in what they pay for Hambleton District Council services, a decision I can only imagine our residents would welcome warmly.”

Council tax bills in Hambleton are made up of services provided by police, fire, the County Council, and the Parish Councils who all independently set their own rates of increase every year.

A break down can be found on council tax bills so residents can see exactly what they are paying for and how much.

Hambleton District Council has carried out careful and detailed analysis of finances to enable a freeze on the council tax rate for their part of the bill and offering a freeze is achievable and is in line with the council’s financial strategy.