A NORTH Yorkshire council is to take another look at the cost of its mayor-making ceremony after the latest event ran up a bill of almost £5,000.

A meal to celebrate the appointment of the mayor of Harrogate last year cost taxpayers £4,827.14, with this year’s ceremony being at a similar level.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Don Mackenzie said the mayor and deputy mayor represented “excellent value”, but said the authority would “look at the cost of the mayoralty in general”.

The council is facing a budget cut of almost 17 per cent this year, and Coun Mackenzie said the cost of the mayor-making would come under scrutiny when next year’s budget was being looked at.

“Clearly it is a civic occasion and it has to be done in a dignified manner,” he said.