COUNCIL tax in Hambleton is to rise by three per cent this year.

Members of the district council's executive recommended the increase at their meeting on Tuesday.

A final decision will be taken later this month by the full council.

Three per cent equates to a rise of £2.23 a year for an average Band D property.

Last year, the Government capped the authority after it announced it was planning a £12 increase. The decision led to £1m being cut from this year's budget.

Council leader, Councillor Arthur Barker, said: "It is vital that we do our best not to breach the Government's capping guidelines, whilst maintaining local services that people value the most.

"Every council is in the same position as us - we do not know what the guidelines will be until after we have set the council tax rate.

"We charge an exceptionally low council tax, so any percentage rise is going to be small in monetary terms, but we must go along with a three per cent increase."