COUNCIL taxpayers across North Yorkshire face bigger bills as the local authority has agreed increases of 1.99 per cent in council tax and a two per cent social care precept.

The rises are part of North Yorkshire County Council’s (NYCC) savings programme that will see its spending power cut by more than a third over the next decade.

The decision was made against a backdrop of increasing pressure on council services, the progress of the council’s transformation programme and the continuing need to make savings.

The council plan, setting out priorities through to 2021, was also adopted on last Wednesday, alongside the budget. The strategy is based on a similar 3.99 per cent increase each year up to 2020 in order to prioritise frontline services.

By April, the county council will have delivered nearly £127m of savings and identified a further £33m to be made by 2020.

However, there remains a shortfall of nearly £10m to be met by 2020/21. In total, this is a 34 per cent reduction in the council’s spending power since 2011.

At the same time, the Council Plan sets out the ambition to continue to invest in programmes such as superfast broadband, extra care facilities and prevention services to support older and vulnerable people, children and familie,; community transport and maintenance of the county’s extensive roads network to boost growth and economic development. The Plan also reaffirms the Council’s commitment to minimise the impact of reduced funding on frontline services.

Council leader Councillor Carl Les said: “We know that people face pressure on their finances. Many families are struggling to make ends meet and we do not want to add significantly to their burden if we can avoid it.

“However, the county council remains concerned about the increasing pressures it faces, not least in adult social care, and will continue to push for a fairer government funding deal given the current low levels of funding; the higher numbers of older people; and the higher costs of delivering in a large rural county.

“We face enormous challenges in delivering frontline services, but we will continue to work with partners in the NHS and our excellent voluntary sector to deliver high-quality, sustainable services.

“We will continue to innovate and improve to support older and vulnerable people in living well and independently in their communities for as long as possible.”

“We are dealing with the challenges head on and pressing ahead with ambitious and effective solutions through nationally recognised good practice.We are ahead of the curve compared to many other local authorities.”

Ryedale District Council was expected to set its council tax for the forthcoming financial year at a budget meeting last night (Tuesday).