A DISTRICT council has announced it looks set to freeze its council tax for the coming year.

Members of Richmondshire District Council’s corporate board agreed to recommend to full council that the tax remains unchanged for the next 12 months, using a grant from central government to offset some of the freeze for the district’s 22,885 taxpayers.

If agreed, the tax on a band D property will be £201.40 per year.

Councillor John Blackie, leader of the council, said: “We have managed the council very prudently since May 2011, avoiding any cuts in the front-line services our residents and businesses value so highly, while maintaining a significant level of healthy reserves as a rainy day antidote to the ravages of austerity being handed down in the demanding savings targets set by central government.

“I am delighted that our very careful handling of our finances allows me to recommend a zero increase in council tax for the forthcoming municipal year.”

The freeze comes after three years of council tax hikes at Richmondshire District Council, with a 1.97 per cent increase last year, a 1.5 per cent increase in 2013, and a three per cent increase in 2012.

Board members also approved a budget of £6,384,850 for 2015 to 2016.

Members of full council will consider the rise on February 24.