A MEETING to decide how much North Yorkshire police will receive from the public purse is to go ahead near Selby next week, despite a Catterick councillor's criticism of the venue.

Richmondshire district councillor Tony Pelton said the Quality Hotel, at Selby Fork, off the A1 on the border with West Yorkshire, was difficult to reach by public transport.

"It is simply not an appropriate choice,'' he said. "Why is it so far from so many of the people who they have consulted about the police budget this year?''

North Yorkshire Police Authority clerk, Jeremy Holderness, said the administration had a peripatetic policy and Selby was chosen to host Monday's meeting because it was the district's turn.

He said: "We have booked the hotel because there simply isn't the space available anywhere else.

"Selby isn't like Middlesbrough, where there may be dozens of venues to chose from.''

Mr Holderness accepted the hotel could be difficult to reach by rail or bus, although he said he hoped anyone without a car who wished to attend the budget-setting meeting would be able to arrange a lift.

"I'm afraid it is a case of not being able to please all of the people all of the time,'' he said.

Last year, the North Yorkshire Police Authority requested a 76 per cent increase in its precept from the council tax on top of a 41 per cent rise it received in 2002.

There has been some stiff resistance to a further increase during consultation on this year's budget, although chief constable Della Cannings has confirmed she estimates the constabulary will need another 11 per cent rise to cover its cost in 2004.

The police authority is expected to decide how much it will ask for at Monday's meeting, which will begin at 10.30am.