From next year, the Income Tax threshold will be raised to ensure that no one pays any income tax on the first £9,205 they earn.

In York, that means 6,830 people will be lifted out of paying Income Tax altogether and 76,900 will receive a £220 tax cut. This is on top of tax cuts of £200 last year and a further £130 next month.

Commenting, Lib Dem Group Leader on the City of York Council Carol Runciman said:

“The Chancellor has done the right thing in listening to Liberal Democrat calls for the Income Tax threshold to be raised further.

“As a Liberal Democrat, I want to see a fairer tax system where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share.

“Raising the Income Tax threshold to £9205 will help average working people in York who have been struggling with bills and higher cost of living.”

On April 5th all of York’s Liberal Democrat Councillors and many Liberal Democrat Aldermen attended the distribution of the Royal Maundy at York Minster. In a day of glorious Spring sunshine that saw York at its best the Queen gave money to 86 women and 86 men – one for each of the Queen’s 86 years – in recognition of their services to the Church and their communities.

The Councillors and Aldermen, dressed in their civic robes, walked from the Guildhall to the Minster through streets thronged with people who had travelled far and wide for a glimpse of the Queen. It was estimated that 15,000 people descended on the city for the day. York Lib Dem Leader Cllr Carol Runciman said “it was wonderful to see so many people had turned out to welcome the royal party to our city – and also excellent news for local businesses.”

After the service Cllrs Carol Runciman, Keith Hyman and Paul Firth attended a civic lunch with the royal party in the Mansion House. Cllr Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion later attended a visit of Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses to the new Yorkshire Museum exhibition “1212: The Making of the City.” The new exhibition marks the 800th anniversary of York’s independence and celebrates the people, places and events that have contributed to the city’s medieval heritage.

York’s Liberal Democrat Councillors have welcomed the news that the University of York has has accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Russell Group of the United Kingdom’s leading research universities.

Councillor Carol Runciman, the Group Leader said “As a member of the University Court I have seen for myself the hard work of students and staff that has led to this invitation being made. The last Liberal Democrat administration supported the expansion of the University and we are delighted that the institution continues to go from strength to strength.”

Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, who studied Politics with Education at York has added his congratulations, saying “In less than fifty years the University has earned itself a worldwide reputation for excellent teaching, research and learning facilities. I am confident that the whole city can continue to be proud of it.”

Liberal Democrat Councillors were disappointed last night when their plans to amend the ruling Labour Cabinet’s budget plans were blocked. The plans would have seen over £2m of the cuts Labour have planned for frontline services reversed, paid for by cutting the Labour leader’s planned £1m ‘Delivery and Innovation Fund’ and reducing council borrowing.

Just some of the plans included in the Liberal Democrat Amendment are:

Reversing Labour’s planned cuts to voluntary sector organisations (including York CVS and the Salvation Army)
Reversing Labour’s  cuts and more investment into Youth Services £50k
Cutting the planned £1m ‘Delivery and Innovation’ fund
Introducing living wage of £6.83ph for council workers
Freezing council tax
Reversing £895k of road maintenance cuts
Reducing borrowing by £1.5m this year (which saves £135k in interest payments this year alone)
Reversing local Ward Committee funding cuts
Reversing cuts to the target hardening fund to combats anti-social behaviour
Keeping Beckfield Lane Recycling Centre open

Councillor Carol Runciman, the Lib Dem leader who proposed the amendment, said “Our amendment would make the proposed budget fairer for York’s residents, in particular the most vulnerable.”

She added: “I was very disappointed that the Labour and Conservative groups did not support our proposals to reverse cuts to vital services and support the most vulnerable in our city.”

For further details of our budget proposals please view http://yorklibdems.org.uk/en/page/news

Shine, the magazine that is circulated to households in York a few weeks before school holidays, provides a wealth of information about all the activities available in the city for young people and families. There is no shortage of places and events to keep young people entertained in York during the holidays, particularly in 2012 with the 800th anniversary of the city charter, the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games. Unfortunately there has not been enough money for the Shine team to produce a print version ahead of the February half term so they have instead placed a lot of information and other content on their website. Shine will be back in print for an Easter edition.

The website can be found at www.yor-ok.org.uk/Shine/shine.