PLANS are afoot in Ryedale to try to cushion council tax payers from a large hike in charges.

Financial bosses at Ryedale District Council are proposing a "standstill" budget in a bid to protect locals as much as possible from a knock-on increase in their bills as a result of North Yorkshire County Council's financial problems.

John Patten, deputy chief executive of Ryedale District Council, has drawn up the figures to be discussed in a meeting on February 16.

Earlier this week the county council announced its budget for 1998-99 will be almost £360million - more than £6million higher than the standard spending assessment announced by the Government at the end of last year. This equates to an average council tax rise of 13.4 per cent, or about £64.

In the light of this rise, council chiefs in Ryedale say they are determined to keep their costs down - although it looks as if it will be impossible to avoid some rise in council tax bills.

"The overall financial position of Ryedale District Council is sound and we can continue to provide a full range of cost effective and efficient services to the residents of Ryedale," said Mr Patten, who is proposing the amount the council spends on the provision of services remains the same as last year at just under £5.4m.

"However, the authority is continuing to spend more than it earns. This situation is not sustainable and will require a review and change in policy at either national or local level within the next two to three years."

Councillors in the district spent last year trying to think of ways of helping the authority's bank balance.

The solutions they came up with included increased car parking charges and reducing the amount of grant aid it gives to Ryedale Festival.

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