COUNCIL tax in one of North Yorkshire’s sprawling districts is to rise by 1.99 per cent.
Members of Harrogate Borough Council, whose area includes Ripon and Masham, have unanimously voted for their first council tax rise in seven years.
The move will mean an annual increase of £4.37, or eight pence per week, for a Band D household.
Council leader Richard Cooper said: “We have been faced by a series of challenges with this budget. The government’s grant has reduced significantly over the last five years and it will disappear completely within the next three years.”
He added: “We have been the envy of many other local authorities having been able to freeze the Harrogate borough element of the council tax for the last six years.
“However, to ensure we are able to continue providing the best possible service for our residents, we have had to take this into consideration the next financial year."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here