COUNCIL bosses have pledged funding of £200,000 to help support people with financial problems.

North Yorkshire County Council members approved the authority's latest council plan, setting out a vision for the county up to 2011, at their quarterly meeting at County Hall, in Northallerton, today.

The council reaffirmed its support for the establishment of a county-wide credit union to protect people from unmanageable debt.

Councillor Carl Les, executive member for corporate services, said: "The problem is of particular concern in North Yorkshire, a predominantly rural area, with fewer support mechanisms for people living on low incomes than are available in many more urban areas.

"In order to tackle this, we have joined forces with York Credit Union to enable people living and working in North Yorkshire to join a not-for-profit alternative to banks, building societies and finance houses, allowing members to save and borrow.

"Alongside other partners, the county council has agreed to commit nearly £200,000 towards the cost of creating a sustainable credit union.

"The size of the county means that, in order to ensure that the credit union will become sustainable, a five-year roll out programme is envisaged. This will mean that credit union services will be rolled out to certain areas first, particularly those areas where the population density is highest, and the more deprived areas.

"From day one, however, all areas of the county will have postal access to the credit union."

Other objectives set out by the council plan include promoting safe communities, and ensuring children grow up prepared for the future.