NORTH Yorkshire's Labour Group has accused the Conservative county council of delivering a 'hammer blow' of proposed tax rises.

County Councillors will discuss on Wednesday whether to increase council tax by almost five per cent to cover shortfalls in central government funding.

Labour group leader, County Councillor Eric Broadbent, said the increase would be a hammer-blow to householders at a time when many are facing ever-rising costs and ever-diminishing incomes.

The Labour group also branded the council's proposals to end free home-to-school transport for students over 16 with special needs or disabilities as "heartless".

Cllr Broadbent called on the authority put some of its reserve funds into budgets to provide services which residents are entitled to.

A council spokeswoman said that the authority has used its reserves for one-off initiatives such as Superfast North Yorkshire broadband expansion, for Extra Care which provides independent living with support for older and vulnerable people and for extra spending on highways and for flooding and coastal erosion schemes.

She added that it was unsustainable for the council to rely on reserves year on year but in uncertain financial times, reserves provide some support to navigate a way through difficult periods.