A PROVISIONAL council tax rise of 5.75 per cent has been set for 2004/5 in North Yorkshire.

County councillors have approved the figure as the basis for consultations on the authprity's budget next month.

An extra £3.4m allocated to the council earlier this month by Chancellor Gordon Brown has meant that the proposed rise is significantly lower than last year's 11.5 per cent increase.

The final budget will go before the council executive on February 3.

Councillors will make their decision after public meetings, including those in Northallerton, Ripon, Catterick, Whitby and Pickering.

Councillor John Weighell, council leader, said: "The county council's aim has always been to deliver good quality and efficient local services at the lowest possible cost to council taxpayers.

"The county council has recently been rated as good by the Audit Commission in relation to the local services it provides."

The proposed increase would mean a rise of £49 a year for a Band D property, pushing the council tax up from £817 to £866 a year.