LEADERS of North Yorkshire County Council are backing an increase in their council tax precept of nearly ten per cent.

The proposed precept rise, which was recommended by the council's executive yesterday, is lower than the 10.25 per cent increase officers at the authority had suggested in a report.

But the executive's revised figure of 9.75 per cent still means that householders living in an average D band property in districts including Hambleton, Selby and Ryedale, would pay more than an extra £60 a year.

Council leader John Weighell said: "We still have problems with the budget but we wanted to keep the increase to below the ten per cent mark if at all possible.

"The figures are still subject to the approval of the full council meeting next Wednesday and could change."

According to Coun Weighell the county council social services department overspent by more than £4 million last year on caring for children and the elderly because of government cuts in 1999.

He said the proposed increase was also due to unforeseen emergencies in the region, such as the Selby rail disaster, floods and foot and mouth.

The executive meeting heard how the rise would enable the council to achieve all its budget objectives.

Updated: 12:03 Wednesday, February 13, 2002