COUNCIL chiefs are demanding a re-think on spending plans to prevent social services in North Yorkshire descending into crisis.

A scrutiny committee set up to assess social care in the county is calling for an extra £1.5m to be made available, amid warnings that stringent cuts could be on the way.

Details of the proposed budget for the coming year were recently outlined to councillors by North Yorkshire's director of social services, Rosemary Archer.

Scrutiny committee members declared that successive years of budget problems in social services and a five per cent cut in the Government's assessment of what North Yorkshire should be spending were unacceptable.

The committee is now urging the county council cabinet to reconsider the level of council tax increase beyond the proposed 6.9 per cent, or find another way to prevent the cuts being faced by social services.

Coun Michael Pitts, chairman of the scrutiny committee, said: "These proposals would not allow us to meet our statutory duties and exercise our duties as corporate parents, as well as our duty of care to social services staff.

"If they were implemented they would lead to a build-up of problems in future years. I very much welcome the important contribution which voluntary organisations and UNISON were able to give at the meeting.

"Their participation ensured that the committee was well-placed to understand the potential impact on spending plans for our communities and front-line staff."

The committee wants a further £1.5m to be made available to reduce the impact of the budget on services for elderly people, children and families.

Neil Irving, chief officer of North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations, said: "Voluntary organisations appreciate that the county council has a poor budget settlement from the Government. But the cuts proposed go too far and will only result in the county council having to provide more higher cost services for people in the future.