A SENIOR councillor has pledged to vote for the opposition if they can run a council on the same level of council tax as a neighbouring authority.

Mick Griffiths, deputy leader of independent-run Richmondshire District Council, made the statement after local Conservatives chose to highlight what they claimed was the "stark difference" in council tax bills between Richmondshire and Tory-run Hambleton district authorities.

To make their point, local Tories erected a sign at the boundary between the two councils at Kiplin, near Scorton.

The sign stated that council tax more than doubled over the border in Richmondshire.

The Conservatives added in a statement that households in Richmondshire paid an additional cost of between £75 and £225 on every home in the district.

The party said that while Hambleton was investing in upgrading leisure facilities, figures released by the National Audit Commission found that Richmondshire was in the lowest performing fifth of councils across the country for spending on culture and sport.

Conservatives also criticised the Richmondshire administration for stopping funding for CCTV cameras.

Fleur Butler, local Conservative council group leader, said: “This is an unacceptable situation and it has to change.

"Why should our council tax be double just because we live in Richmondshire? And why, despite this, are we losing vital services like CCTV designed to keep local people safe? This simply isn’t right.”

But in response, Cllr Griffiths described the sign as a "cheap shot", adding that Hambleton could set a lower council tax because in 1985 they sold off their council housing stock and invested the money.

He said: "If Fleur Butler can run Richmondshire on the same level of council tax as Hambleton then I will vote for her. And if she can't, why can't she?

"The overwhelming message from the people of Richmondshire was that they wanted to see their vital services preserved, which is what we have done. We have had very, very modest council tax increases and it has been frozen this year - unlike Hambleton."

Cllr Griffiths said Hambleton had followed the Tory national agenda by imposing a "slash and burn" policy on services.