Residents across Kingston Park, Bank Foot, Dinnington and Woolsington are facing a 5.2% rise in Council Tax this year, following a decision by Labour councillors.
At the same meeting, councillors also voted to increase their own allowances by 3.2%.
The increase has drawn criticism from Connor and Tudor, who are standing to represent the area and say households are being asked to pay more while local services continue to decline. Concerns raised include street cleanliness, road maintenance and reductions to frontline services, at a time when many families are managing rising living costs.
Connor, who was born and raised in Newcastle and works in public communications, said he believes stronger scrutiny and accountability are needed at City Hall. He said he has seen first-hand the impact of recent decisions and wants to challenge what he describes as a decline in standards across the city.
Tudor has worked in adult social care and now works in social housing, supporting projects aimed at improving insulation and energy efficiency to help residents manage rising household costs. He said he wants to see local services better reflect the needs of the community.
The pair say residents should not face higher taxes alongside what they describe as worsening local services.
A short questionnaire has been distributed asking for views on Council Tax and the quality of local services. Residents are encouraged to complete and return the survey using the Freepost envelope provided.
Connor and Tudor say the responses will help shape their priorities as they seek to represent Kingston Park, Bank Foot, Dinnington and Woolsington.
