RYEDALE District Council is to have a deputy leader for the first time – with a possible extra allowance – despite warnings that the authority faces more financial cuts.

Coun Linda Cowling (Cons), who was re-elected as leader at last week’s annual meeting of the council, told members that the increasing workload in the position meant she needed a deputy.

“Being leader is almost a full time job so it is important that there is a deputy,” she said.

However, some councillors questioned whether the deputy would be a paid position, with Coun Elizabeth Shields (Lib Dem) suggesting that the total allowance for leader should be divided on a two-to-one basis, which would not involve any increase in cost to the council.

Councillors agreed that Coun Caroline Goodrick (Cons) should be appointed deputy leader, and that the issue would go before the Independent Remuneration Panel to make any recommendation on a potential allowance for her, which would then have to be ratified by the council.

At the same meeting Coun Cowling told councillors that the district council faces more financial cuts.

“I am sure there will be even less money available and further cuts to budgets will be inevitable,” she said.

“We shall have to face up to the challenges that Chancellor George Osborne will inevitably be telling us next month in his comprehensive spending review.”

She said Ryedale District Council would be to be “absolutely clear” as to what was important for Ryedale residents and businesses.

“We shall need to be upfront and clear about what is not important and what we can no longer do,” she said.

She said the council policy and resources committee would be examining the capital programme and added: “We will have to prioritise our projects so that we ensure that our resources are put to best use.”

Coun Cowling said one issue she was exploring was what she described as an innovative way to provide affordable housing in Ryedale.

She was also anxious to see more job opportunities created in Ryedale.

After the meeting, Coun Cowling, who said she received an annual leader’s allowance of £3,000, told the Gazette & Herald, that to enable her to fulfil her role as leader she had had to take on an additional member of staff at her tearooms in Pickering.

“I am at Ryedale House almost every day dealing with council business, often for several hours at a time. It is an important position because there are many issues which need attention and I am determined to give the post my full attention,” she said.

“However, there are times when I will need a deputy such as holidays or if I am not available to carry out my responsibilities.”

Coun John Clark (Liberal) said if it was a job share, the allowance should be divided accordingly.

“We have always had a leader who is capable of doing the job and has not said the minute they get the job that they don’t have time to do it,” he said.

“This should not cost anything and if there are any costs here I will be calling for the leader to reconsider her position.”

-  NEWLY-elected member Shane Collinson, who held the Ryedale South West seat for the Conservtives after former council leader Keith Knaggs stepped down, has been appointed the authority’s champion for older people. Coun Collinson is 21.

Meanwhile at County Hall, new county councillor Elizabeth Shields has been appointed chair of children’s and young people’s services. Coun Shields is 85.