The rising cost of living affects everyone, but it impacts the less fortunate the most. I support all actions aimed at alleviating this burden. Here’s what I propose:

Fairer Funding for Local Authorities

North Yorkshire Council receives at least 33% less funding per head than equivalent metropolitan councils. This disparity means fewer and poorer services for us. For example, residents frequently complain about potholes. Is it any wonder when the council receives just a sixth of the funding per head compared to councils in the southeast? I will demand fairer funding for North Yorkshire Council to ensure better services for all residents.

Fairer Council Tax

Residents in Harrogate and Knaresborough pay at least 25% more in council tax compared to those in the south. Council tax is a regressive tax that does not account for the ability to pay. Levelling this up will put more money in everyone’s pockets, particularly benefiting the less well off. I will call for a fairer council tax system to address this imbalance.

Cheaper Renewable Energy

The cost of generating solar energy is around 5p per kilowatt-hour, yet we are paying 24p per kilowatt-hour. I will promote the generation of cheaper renewable energy to reduce energy costs for everyone.

Lower Public Transport Fares

Reliable and affordable public transport can reduce car dependency. I will advocate for lower public transport fares to make this a viable option for more people (see the transport section for more details).

Affordable and Social Housing

I will encourage the construction of affordable and social homes to meet the housing needs of our community. Additionally, I will lobby at Westminster to improve building standards. All new homes should be built to the highest standards, reducing energy bills from an average of £3000 a year to less than £1000. It’s more cost-effective to implement these standards during construction, costing around £5000 per home, compared to £20,000 for retrofitting.

Create a Fairer Rental Market

I will seek increased monitoring and enforcement against rogue landlords providing unsafe or squalid conditions. We must also set legislation to cap unreasonable rent increases and protect tenants from abuse of the no-fault eviction process. These measures will ensure a fairer and more secure rental market.