CRAVEN residents are facing an increase of about £28 in their council tax for the coming year.

Of all the local charging authorities, Craven District Council is alone in freezing its precept at last year’s levels.

North Yorkshire County Council, the police, and fire and rescue have all raised their precepts by just under two per cent, while town and parishes raised theirs by an average of 4.6 per cent.

It means the average Band D householder in Craven will pay a total of £1,584 for the year beginning in April, compared to £1,556 last year.

North Yorkshire County Council, which commands the biggest share of council tax, raised its precept by 1.99 per cent - the highest allowed - representing an average increase of £21 per year, and taking its bill from £1,078 to £1,099.

The increase will produce income of around £4.8 million to set against a budget requirement of £363 million. Even with the increase, the council will have to take more than £1.6 million from its reserves and make savings of £22 million.

The police’s share of the council tax - set by the police and crime commissioner - will increase also by 1.99 per cent, taking the annual average bill from £208 to £212.

Craven Council unanimously agreed on Tuesday to freeze its precept for the fifth year running and to accept the government’s freeze grant of around £35,000.

In what was believed to be a first for Craven District Council, all those at Tuesday’s meeting backed the budget and a freeze in the council’s precept - for the fifth year running.

But residents will still face a rise of about £28 in the coming year after all other charging authorities increased their precepts by around 1.9 per cent.

Cllr Richard Foster (Cons), council leader, said despite unprecedented central government cuts there were plenty of positives to look forward to, including the redevelopment of the south of Skipton employment site and the start of the town’s flood alleviation scheme.

Cllr Paul English, leader of the Liberal Democrats, had reservations about accepting the government’s council tax freeze grant, rather than increase the precept, but backed the budget.

Cllr Robert Heseltine (Ind) welcomed a new era for the council, but warned austerity was here to stay - whatever the General Election result.

Councillors also agreed a revenue budget of £7.1 million and maintaining a general fund balance of £995,000.

Cllr Foster said: “In setting this budget we had planned for a further reduction in support from central government, and here in Craven this proved to be a further cut of 27.9 per cent in our revenue support grant - a loss in cash terms of £443,000.

“Over the last year we have continued to cut costs wherever possible and we are on track to deliver an underspend against the budget for 2014/15 reflecting the prudent approach taken.”

Savings of £130,000 had been made over the last year, leading to total savings of £541,000. Cllr Foster said the authority had “done very well to put forward a robust and balanced budget” without an increase in council tax.