COUNCILLORS in Selby have agreed to freeze the district’s share of council tax bills for another year.

Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council, said the authority had put itself on a “sound financial footing” to be able to support residents.

In December, The Press revealed the council would increase the council tax after it declined an offer for funding from the Government equal to one per cent, but it recently calculated it had made sufficient savings in the last three years to allow another council tax freeze.

Coun Crane said its prudent approach meant the council was also able to invest in issues such as supporting retail, jobs growth, developing housing and infrastructure, and improving leisure services.

The average council tax charge in the district will remain at £158.88 – about £3 per week to cover all council services, including bin collections, leisure services, housing support and planning.

The authority has also agreed to give a one-off grant of £26,000 to parish councils to increase the £134,000 donation from central Government, in an effort to help the parish councils make savings for the future, when their council tax rates change.

The authority also agreed to delay proposals to introduce a £26 charge for emptying green bins at the meeting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ryedale District Council has agreed to freeze the district’s share of council tax bills. Its annual budget, confirmed this week, will also see none of the authority’s cash reserves used to balance the books and no compulsory redundancies for the year ahead.

Council tax levels for a Band D property will remain at £176.72 and £9.25 million being put into “capital” schemes, such as building projects, between 2013 and 2017.