PLANS to introduce cheap bus travel for teenagers could be delayed because of the potential capping of a council's tax bills, officers have warned.

Hambleton District Council wants to let 14 to 16-year-olds use buses at a discounted rate on routes in North Yorkshire, Cleveland and Durham.

But officers have warned they cannot make a decision on the scheme until they know whether or not their council tax levels are going to be capped by the Government.

The authority announced a rise of 17.6 per cent earlier this year, well above the Government's 5.5 per cent threshold.

Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford said in March that the Government was considering capping Hambleton's council tax, despite the rise only equating to around 23p per week.

A decision on whether or not Hambleton is to be capped is due to be announced in July.

If the authority is capped, it would leave officers needing to cut £200,000 from its budget.

One casualty could be the planned concessionary fares scheme for young people, which would cost around £23,000 to put in place.

Steve Quartermain, the council's director of planning and environmental services, said: "In light of the uncertain financial position of the council in the future, there is a risk in committing to the implementation of a scheme which will commit the council to on-going revenue expenditure.

"Cabinet may want to defer the introduction of a scheme for young people until further detail on the impact of free travel and the potential capping of the council are known.

"If the council defers implementation, however, there is an associated risk that ultimately, community expectations may not be met."

The scheme would see youngsters given half-price fares on services in Hambleton and to Darlington, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Richmond, Hawes, Ripon, Kirk- bymoorside and York. The passes would be valid at off- peak times, which is all times except for journeys starting on school days before 5pm.

The council's cabinet will meet today at the Civic Centre in Northallerton to discuss the issue. Mr Quartermain has recommended that the scheme should be approved, but a date for introduction be deferred.