Call for cut in council tax for pensioners

Danby Coun Herbert Tindall, a well-known borough and county councillor, said the latest controversial increase was ridiculous.

A significant factor in the rise has been attributed to a 76pc increase in the North Yorkshire police budget and reduced central government grants to the county.

"People just cannot live with this," Coun Tindall told Danby Group Parish Council, at Castleton, on Wednesday of last week.

"I'm going to try to get a reduction for pensioners and people on low incomes. I'm looking for a 50pc cut for single people and 25pc for couples. People living on pensions cannot go on like this.

"I've been in favour of this parish council writing to state that the council tax is far above what it needs to be."

The increase would cause hardship for many Moors residents, both young and old, he said.

Coun Rita Rudsdale, of Castleton, said families were also suffering. "This is hitting our household hard. We have one daughter at university and another ready to go. It's costing us a fortune. I wish the authorities could explain where all this money is going."

Why were basic services, such as maintenance of public toilets at Castleton, under threat, if taxes were so high, she asked.

"We're not poor, but this means there's no incentive to go out and work."

Coun Les Underwood said the increase was a response by the county council to a reduced grant from central government.

But Coun Geoff Banner, of Commondale, feared bureaucracy was expanding as the council tax rose. The latest increase was the fourth annual increase.

"I've had loads of complaints about the police precept. A police scheme or committee has recently been set up at Scarborough, costing £270,000. But it's just a co-ordinating committee with people from different agencies, not extra police. It's doing no more than what should be done at the moment," he claimed.

Coun Tindall planned to raise the issue with the county council next month.