RYEDALE District Council has saved about £14,000 on printing costs since giving iPads to its councillors.

The figures were revealed at a full meeting of council last week.

They came as a result of a question from Cllr Janet Frank, pictured, who asked: “How much money has been spent on paper copies of the agendas since we were issued with the tablets? We were told that the tablets would save £15,000 per year. How has that turned out? Have we made the savings promised?”

In response, Cllr Luke Ives, chairman of the policy and resources committee, said: “There has been a reduction of approximately £14,000 in the cost of copying and printing agenda papers.”

He added that it has saved staff time of about one member of staff for one week, spread across the 42 meetings per year.

“This is not only savings taxpayers’ money,” he said, “it’s reduced the environmental impact. I commend the efforts of the interim chief executive who has made great strides in instilling a true paperless culture.”