Ryedale taxpayers face a 7.2 per cent hike in their council tax bills after district councillors rubber-stamped their proposed budget for the next financial year.

Members conceded the figure was high, but said a number of uncontrollable factors were behind it.

The total proposed spending figure for the council stands at £6,161,650.

This is an increase of £331,650 on last year's spending estimate.

However, pointed out Coun Keith Knaggs, out of seven North Yorkshire Districts the rise in Ryedale's tax was fifth lowest.

Coun Knaggs, who is Chairman of the important Policy and Resources Committee, also said that the budget had been balanced without excessive demands on Ryedale's taxpayers.

He said: "This has also been achieved without this council initiating any cuts in existing services. Some will say seven per cent is excessive. But take out the cost of government imposed schemes, such as benefit verification and the hugely costly best value audits and inspections, and the increase is in line with inflation".

Best Value will cost ratepayers £193,000 in the next financial year.

Coun Knaggs then pointed to £200,000 worth of savings in the budget, and said the present council had been prepared to tackle issues their predecessors had not.

These included the Milton Rooms, job evaluation and flood alleviation, he said.

Coun Knaggs concluded: "Two years ago the challenge was to break the psychology of spending beyond our means. Members will know we have additional costs to prepare which will require a willingness to take tough decisions. But we have done so for two years running.

"Now the mould has been broken, the challenge for the next two years is different - it involves looking outwards.

"We are not here to decide who sits on what committee, we're here to provide a service to local people - not central government."

Updated: 10:13 Friday, March 09, 2001