COUNCIL tax for residents in North Yorkshire could be going up for the first time in three years.

North Yorkshire County Council will consider the authority’s new budget in February.

Although no decision has yet been made, a report has suggested a two per cent rise in council tax would prevent the authority needing to find an extra £2.3 million in savings.

Council leader John Weighell said: “Naturally we would prefer not to present the taxpayers of North Yorkshire with an increase in their bills.

“That is why, since the budget of February 2011, we have frozen council tax, even though the financial consequences for the authority have been significant.”

“However, we have reached the point where accepting that offer presents us with a financial challenge which we believe may be unacceptable.

“We are on track to save £94m over the four years ending in March 2015, and we estimate we already have to find a further £77m over the next four years.”

Coun Weighell said the changes were equal to a cut in spending power by a third in eight years, and a rise of two per cent represented £21 per year, or 41p per week, for the average household.

He said: “While any increase is regrettable, it is my belief that such a relatively small rise in individual tax bills, following three years of tax freezes, would be reasonable.”

A public consultation will be held before February with councillors and their wards, and through feedback which can be given on the council’s website.