THOUSANDS of pounds are set to be cut from the budget for Ryedale’s civic figureheads.

Ryedale District Council is looking to reduce the amount it spends on allowances, travel and hospitality for its chairman and vice-chairman by £3,000 next year.

The civic budget has already been reduced by £1,350 for the current financial year, meaning it stands at £19,690, but the authority is now seeking to reduce it further amid the public spending squeeze.

The issue will be discussed when the council’s policy and resources committee meets tomorrow to make a recommendation on the proposed reduction to the full authority, which would have the final say.

A report by its head of organisational development, Louise Sandall, said the budget had “consistently underspent” and added: “It is reasonable to consider it could be reduced by £3,000 with little impact.”

The civic budget for 2011/12 includes an allowance of £6,950 for the council’s chairman, Coun Steve Arnold, and £1,220 for the vice-chairman, Coun Linda Cowling. It also has £9,020 set aside for travel expenses and £2,500 for civic hospitality.

“The chairman’s allowance is spent on various causes, for example, civic service, wreaths for Remembrance Sunday and the net cost of the Ryedale District Council annual dinner,” said the report.

“Any unspent money at the end of a civic year has, in previous years, been allocated by the relevant chairman to specific charities. In 2010/11, the chairman repaid the underspend on the budget to the council.”

The travel aspect of the budget is mainly related to the running of the civic car, as well as when the chairman uses their own vehicle for civic business. The civic car was bought nine years ago and its value is estimated at between £2,000 and £2,500, having been used 54 times in 2008/09 but only eight times in 2010/11.

Of the seven district councils in North Yorkshire, Ryedale is thought to have the third highest civic budget and devotes the most money to allowances for the chairman and vice-chairman. Over the last three years, the budget has underspent by more than £22,000.

However, the report added: “Any savings, while welcome, will not significantly impact on the ongoing work to balance the council’s net revenue budget.”