Labour leader Councillor David Scott declared the budget a purge on waste in the city council, saying the culture of waste under the present Liberal Democrat administration had to end. He also said the Labour budget amendments would offer a helping hand to every resident.

He said:

"Our budget will offer help to the young, the elderly and the vulnerable. These amendments are true to Labour values, and we are firm in our commitment to helping those who need it. As well as offering free breakfast at breakfast clubs to all those eligible for free school meals, we are offering subsidised travel for all those in full time education between the ages of 16 and 19 by extending the YoZone card.

"We will also offer a £25 reduction in council tax for over 75s, reverse the cut in respite care agreed by the Lib Dems, while adding to the budget for respite care for a group of carers who go above and beyond the call of duty.

"We will cut through the culture of waste by reducing money spent on staff buffets, taxis and venue hire, on departmental travel budgets which encourage poor practice in getting best value and by reducing taxpayer subsidy for staff travel to and from work. This is where the Lib Dems are happy to see money frittered away without assessing whether it is really needed".

Other areas where Labour has focused its attention include training and the environment. Proposed cuts to graduate trainee positions would be reversed, while a new sum of money would be directed into setting up a proper apprenticeship scheme across the council. On sustainability, Labour has retained its previous commitment to a Green Travel Plan Coordinator and Smart Travel Planning, while agreeing to channel over £150k into a Statutory Bus Partnership, in order to improve local bus services.

"We will provide a grant of £1000 each to the Festival of Remembrance and the Annual Community Carol Concert to help them with venue hire whilst the Barbican remains a wasted resource.

"We will also cut the cost of ResPark permits, not just visitor passes which is a poor attempt at a gimmick as far as we are concerned. We will also reverse silly cuts such as £2k on bowling green maintenance which is unnecessarily punitive on those local sports clubs that utilise these facilities. They are York residents that deserve better than the Lib Dem budget can offer, but which they would get under an agreed Labour budget".

"All this can be done within the council tax rise set by the Lib Dems", concluded Coun. Scott.

The council's budget setting meeting takes place at 6.30pm on Thursday, at the Guildhall.