COUNCIL tax in Richmondshire could rise by 1.9 per cent if a recommendation from a strategy board committee is accepted by the full council.

Richmondshire District Council’s strategy board last night (Monday, February 10) voted in favour of the increase, despite opposition from some Conservative members of the committee.

Councillors were told by finance director Sian Moore that a council tax freeze would be a short-term solution because once the council tax is retained at the same level the possible revenue is lost forever – and over a ten year period that would be a loss of around £730,000 which would need to be met from reserves.

But Councillor Yvonne Peacock said she could not support a council tax increase.

She said: “I think we should be giving something back to the residents so I’m proposing we accept the freeze.

“It is fine to say it is only a few pence a week but it keeps going up and up year on year. We now have more elderly residents and we all know the problems they have to deal with financially.”

Coun Fleur Butler added: “I’m getting people coming to me and say they can’t believe the council would put up the tax again.”

But they were out-voted by the rest of the committee, who voted in line with officer’s recommendations and the decision will be put to full council later this month.