A CITY council is facing an inflation-busting 227 per cent rise in rental charges for its town hall accommodation.

Ripon City Council has been asked to pay Harrogate Borough Council, owner of Ripon Town Hall, an annual rent of £7,272 - from its present £2,226 figure.

The city council, which has parish council status, has an annual income of £97,000 from local taxpayers, which is in addition to their general council tax bill.

Mayor of Ripon Councillor David Parnaby has branded the planned increase "totally unfair".

Members are looking for a cabinet level meeting with Harrogate Borough Council. Increases will also affect a series of charitable organisations.

Harrogate council leader Mike Gardner welcomed a meeting with Ripon councillors, saying he did not want the city to be treated any differently to other parts of the district on the question of rental fees. He hoped any meeting would help to find a fair solution.

"There are costs associated with operation of the building and the council is simply seeking a fair and equitable system of charging for all its public buildings across the district," he said.

Coun Gardner said the council would continue to try to be as flexible as possible with community groups.