RYEDALE councillors have agreed a "standstill" budget which will mean a slight cut in their council tax demands - but local people will still face increases of about £60 in their bills. A special meeting of Ryedale District Council's Policy and Resources Committee agreed to stick to a budget of just under £5.4 million for the third year running.

With a slight increase in Government grants to the authority this could mean a reduction in council tax bills of about £3, Deputy Chief Executive John Patten told councillors.

But he added North Yorkshire County Council and Police Authority costs had risen, which meant the bills for an average B and D property in Ryedale would probably go up from about £659 to £718 for the coming year.

The final decision on the budget for 1998-99 will be made at a full meeting of the council on March 5.

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