Senior councillors in North Yorkshire will meet on Tuesday to discuss a proposed 2024/25 budget that includes a suggested council tax rise of 4.99 per cent.

The figure, which includes a two per cent precept for adult social care, would equate to an increase of £87.80 for an average Band D property to a total bill of £1,847.62.

North Yorkshire Council says the budget will protect the vast majority of frontline services from cuts due to the benefits of bringing the county's previous eight councils into a single organisation.

In a statement ahead of Tuesday's meeting, the authority said a medium-term blueprint has identified £46m in savings across the next three financial years. Of that figure, the council said more than £36m is set to be brought about by the overhaul of local government in the county, which came into effect last April.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire Council

This includes efficiencies of almost £11.8m from bringing together services, a saving of £6.7m in support services and nearly £2m in transforming technology and streamlining IT systems. In addition, £3.1m in savings have already been secured in the first year of the council’s operation through reducing the number of senior managers alongside cutting the number of councillors from 319 to 90.

A further £10.1m in savings is predicted to be made over the next three financial years, which includes cutting the cost of commissioning by £3.1m by reducing, for instance, the number of high value care packages, and a further £1.2m by bringing together highways services.

Despite these savings, the council says increasing demand for support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) alongside a soaring need for adult social care have amplified the financial pressures in North Yorkshire, and the proposed budget would see £6.5m of reserves used to balance the books in the next financial year.

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Council leader, Cllr Carl Les said: “We have always been aware of the benefits of bringing services under the control of one council, and a great deal of work has been undertaken to ensure that these can come to fruition.

“As a council, we know the financial pressures which taxpayers are facing, and we are committed to ensuring that every pound of residents’ and businesses’ money is used as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

Among the savings that are being proposed are changes to home to school transport which would mean that families are given funding for pupils to attend their nearest school rather than in the wider catchment area, and fees and charges are also set to increase to reflect inflation.

North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who is also the executive member responsible for finance, said: “We have had to look extremely closely at the proposed budget and while we are acutely aware of the financial pressures which people are facing, we have to balance this with the fact that key services would have to be cut without a rise in council tax.

“We will continue to support those most in need in North Yorkshire, and we have managed to achieve savings that will protect the vast majority of frontline services.

“I would suggest that the proposed savings are among the least controversial of anywhere in the country, and this has been brought about thanks largely to the opportunities of local government reorganisation and also prudent management of our finances over many years.”

The council’s executive are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the proposed budget. If approved, it will be considered at a full council meeting next month, before it is adopted.