THE cost of running Ryedale District Council, one of the biggest rural authorities in the country, amounted to £7.6m in the past financial year.

Chief financial officer, Trevor Teasdale, says in his annual report on the accounts, that environmental health made up 16 per cent of the bill, while leisure and tourism amounted to 15 per cent, housing, including benefits, 14 per cent, planning 12 per cent, and refuse collection 11 per cent.

The cost of collecting council tax was five per cent, and three per cent of the budget was spent on economic development, and other miscellaneous services accounted for the balance of 24 per cent.

This year's capital spending programme will be £1.5m, an increase of about £450,000 on the sum originally forecast.

The increase is due to some schemes being re-phased from the last financial year, and a rise in the costs of some schemes.

Mr Teasdale said it was important to prioritise schemes because it would not be possible in future to finance all projects.

"It is equally important that schemes are tightly project-managed to ensure completion within agreed timescales," he added.

Capital schemes planned over the next four years include an affordable housing initiative (£1m), extending the recycling scheme (£200,000), improving facilities at Ryedale Swimming Pool (£200,000), Prior Pot Beck pumping station (£238,000), matched funding towards improvements to Milton Rooms (£83,000), crafts units, cycle hire facility at Dalby Forest Centre (£50,000), resurfacing car parks (£100,000), and Ryedale teenage recreation network (£30,000).