AN increase in council tax above the rate of inflation is on the way for North Yorkshire next year.

Council leader John Weighell said the increasee was inevitable if the authority was to improve and develop its services.

He said that clear priorities had to be established as the council began the work of preparing next year's budget.

He told a meeting of the full council: "Our key objectives are to achieve excellence in education, provide quality care for those in need and maintain a safe and effective transport infrastructure.

"The events and emergencies of the past 12 months have placed extreme pressure on the council's finances."

The council expects the Government to propose an increase in spending on services of around six per cent which will automatically lead to an increase in council tax well above the rate of inflation.

Coun Weighell said: "In addition, the need to restore the council's reserves and to make up for shortfalls in central government funding, particularly for the care of the elderly and child protection, will put great pressure on us to make savings wherever they can be found.

"We cannot escape the prospect of further rises in council tax. Our objective will be to ensure that in North Yorkshire the council tax rates stay below average among English counties."

The draft budget should be published before Christmas and consultations will follow in January.