A GROUP of residents are joining forces to set up an action group in a bid to tackle rising precepts in Northallerton.

The residents, led by ex-mayor, Jack Dobson, are hoping to set up a local branch of the Rate Payers' Association.

Mr Dobson has criticised Northallerton Town Council for annually increasing its precept above the rate of inflation over the past seven years.

At a meeting of the town council on Monday, Mr Dobson said the rates on his Band E property had increased by 202pc between 1997 and last year, despite annual inflation hovering at around 3pc.

He said: "This is a sizeable increase by anyone's standards. The Rate Payers' Association has found that just a one percent rise above inflation means a cut in someone's standard of living, especially those on fixed incomes."

In 1997, residents in band E homes paid £698 in council tax, but last year were asked for £1,413. The town council's cut of that has risen from £33.57 in 1997 to £60 last year.

Mr Dobson said: "Authorities cannot ask for rates that are above residents' means to pay. Many people, especially those on low or fixed incomes are very worried about it, and we are looking to set up a group to do what we can to ease the problem and hold the authorities accountable."

In response to the criticisms voiced at Monday's meeting, mayor Tony Hall pointed out that Mr Dobson was mayor of Northallerton for three years during the period in question.

Mr Dobson was mayor in 1999, 2000 and 2003, during which time the town council's cut of the precepts increased by 6.7pc, 3.6pc and 8.2pc respectively. Mr Dobson said the last of those increases was high owing to a one-off payment relating to the town's cemetery.

The council agreed to set the precept at £184,000 - a 12pc increase on last year's precept of £148,000. Couns John Prest and Andy Wake expressed concern and voted against the rise.

Coun Prest said: "It's time this council took matters in hand. If it we are looking at a 12 percent increase then we have to make some hard decisions. If that means making hard decisions about staffing and wages, we are all business people and that's what we were elected to do."

Coun Sally Anderson said salaries included those of maintenance staff who carriedout duties such as repairs, litter collection, planting flowers and painting play equipment. "The staff who are appointed for that are very good value for money," she said.

Coun Hall said a job evaluation had revealed the clerk had been underpaid for four years, which had been taken into account to reach this year's precept figure.

* See town council report, page 14.