Ryedale district councillors have agreed to freeze council tax at the authority’s last-ever budget meeting.

The vote to freeze council tax was made by councillors in a bid to help residents as energy bills and the cost of living rises. Council tax will stay at £205.63 per year for the average Band D.

In addition to the proposals included in the budget and Financial Strategy, additional funding was ring-fenced for a number of projects, including:

l £160k to invest in Ryedale’s rural communities

l £50k for the Norton skate park

l £150k into the community grants scheme for rural community projects

Councillors also supported the Covid-19 Additional Relief Funding (CARF) so that the scheme can be implemented to benefit businesses that have been, and continue to be, affected by the pandemic and are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates.

The actual spend on these amendments and proposals is subject to council approval of an appropriate business case and further approvals at relevant meetings.

Items on the budget agenda which were not yet voted on will be discussed at the reconvened meeting which is scheduled to be held on February 24.

The budget for 2022/23 covers the period from April 1 to March 31 next year.

Cllr Dinah Keal, chair of Policy and Resources Committee for Ryedale District Council said: “As a council we want to help the communities we serve. The Covid-19 pandemic and the current economic climate has put a huge strain on people’s finances; residents are facing a rise in energy bills and national insurance will go up in April.

Cllr Keal said: “We voted for a council tax freeze to help support local residents and avoid putting any further pressure on already hard pressed family budgets.

“This final budget addresses the district council’s aims and objectives.

“It enables us to continue to work smarter to deliver the services that matter the most to local people and invest in our communities.

Cllr Keal added: “It also gives us the opportunity to leave our affairs in the best state we can for the new North Yorkshire Council.”

Last July, the Government announced that the county, district and borough councils in North Yorkshire will be replaced by a new unitary council.

It is expected that the new North Yorkshire Council will begin to operate on April 1 next year.