IT'S the buzz word Spectator can undoubtedly see, consultation is the name of the game.We have Hambleton District Council this week reminding folk to have their say on their budget and what they should be spending the council tax cash on. One of the questions is would you like to see funding on certain services increasing, staying the same or decreasing. While Hambleton has one of the lowest council tax rates in the country at £109 for a Band D property, the total taking into account finances for North Yorkshire County Council, police and fire is £1,747 per average household.

It closes on October 25 and it would seem important that people do tell the decision makers and budget setters what they think.

Hambleton is also consulting on whether there's support for an art installation to commemorate the recent visit of the UCI world cycling championships to these parts. This seems to be a fishing expedition just to find out if people think it's a good idea, and it does seem important that people do go to the council's website to tell them what they think, it's called democracy and it all helps.

Meanwhile North Yorkshire's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is well known for asking the people. If you put consultation into the website search it comes up with 424 possibilities going back to 2012. The latest one asking if police officers on the county's streets should routinely carry tasers is now closed but is an indication that Ms Mulligan is keen to hear what the people think.

CONGRATULATIONS need to go to Denny Gibson and friends who have now handed over the reigns of Bedale Book Fair to Northallerton Mowbray Rotary after raising over £50,000 for charity.