PEOPLE in North Yorkshire are being invited to take part in the debate over the county’s budget - and council tax.

County council leader Cllr Carl Les and chief executive Richard Flinton are urging people to join them for a live budget web chat on January 23, between 5pm and 7pm.

This year’s financial settlement, announced in December, leaves the county council with a choice – to take the Government’s offer of increasing council tax by a further one per cent or to make further cuts that will affect frontline services.

An additional increase of one per cent, on top of the increase already proposed in the council’s long-term financial strategy, would enable the authority to raise council tax by 2.99 per cent, plus a further two per cent towards adult social care.

That overall increase would be equivalent to just under £5 a month for an average household.

Cllr Les said: “We want to hear people’s views and suggestions on the priorities that guide our work.”

People can sign up to join the web chat and leave their questions in advance at northyorks.gov.uk/budget.