COUNCIL bosses have pledged to make a series of improvements in local services in the hope of landing a windfall of more than £12m.

North Yorkshire County Council has reached an agreement with the Government, setting itself a number of performance targets in key areas.

After three years, if it has achieved its targets, the authority will receive £12.67m to spend on service improvements.

The pledge comes through a Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA), which councils hope will lead to an easing of red tape.

The agreement commits the authority to improved performances in 11 areas.

They include: improving the quality of life and independence of older people; increasing the educational attainment of children and young people in care; and reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured in road accidents.

The authority has also pledged to increase the amount of waste that it recycles and improve its cost effectiveness.

Council leader John Weighell said: "This agreement sets tough targets for important local services.

"The county council is committed to achieving the highest quality services and the agreement gives us fresh incentives to deliver improvements across the range of what we do.

"Success will mean securing more resources in future years to invest in yet higher standards and better facilities for people throughout North Yorkshire.

"We will be working closely with a number of partner organisations, including district councils, to achieve the targets."

He said: "Entering into this agreement with the Government is a major step for the county council. It will help us to provide higher levels of service than would have otherwise been the case, not just during the agreement, but for years to come."

Over the next three years, the authority intends to spend £2.74m to achieve the service targets covered by the LPSA, including a £1.37m grant from the Government.

Some of the money will be allocated to the partner organisations working with the county council to help it provide enhanced local services and achieve better cost-effectiveness.