NORTH Yorkshire's fire chief is to defend a proposed 30pc hike in his service's share of council tax bills at public meetings across the county, including one in Malton.

For the first time this year, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority will be making a separate charge, or precept, on local taxpayers. The service has always had to be funded through local taxation, but, until now, bills have never shown taxpayers exactly how much they pay towards the service.

A new Government rule, aimed at increasing transparency, states that the precept must be included on individual bills.

The provisional 30pc increase would take the cost to each taxpayer from £46 to £60.

A major consultation on the proposed rise is due to start, with chief fire officer Eric Clark set to defend it at public meetings.

He plans to present the £60 a year for the fire service as good value compared to the cost of a year's home insurance cover.

Mr Clark said: "I understand the figure is very high. I am asking people to focus on what other services or insurance policies they could get for £60 a year, especially one so heavily into prevention. We are proactive as well as reactive."

Mr Clark said the rise was necessary to cover increased pay for firefighters, greater community safety needs, an increased pension burden and a need to boost the contingency budget. He added: "One of the problems in the past has been not getting the chance to hear what the public want and what they are willing to pay."

No final details are available yet for the region's council tax rises. A 6-7pc rise is expected from North Yorkshire County Council. The North Yorkshire Police precept has not been announced yet.

A public meeting will be held at Malton Fire Station at 6.30pm on January 19. Scarborough Fire Station will host a meeting on Saturday at 2pm. York Fire Station's meeting will be on January 14 from 7.30pm.

Regarding the police budget, the public can express views by completing a questionnaire at website www.nypa.org.uk or by requesting a questionnaire from Sue Evers, the police community engagement officer on (01765) 641839.

Updated: 10:41 Wednesday, January 07, 2004