A DECISION on whether £850,000 can be used by Craven District Council to set up a 'legacy fund' is yet to be made by North Yorkshire County Council.

Craven Council, which will cease to exist on March 31, wants to give £850,000, from its New Homes Bonus money, to the Two Ridings Foundation to set up the Craven Legacy Fund for the distribution of grants to worthy causes in the district.

Setting up of the fund, which would continue after the council goes under local government reorganisation, has raised some concerns from Craven members who believe the money would be put to better use by the new North Yorkshire Council, when it takes over on April 1.

North Yorkshire County Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who is also the executive member for finance, said: “We have not formally considered the request from Craven District Council to award £850,000 to the Two Ridings Foundation to set up a legacy fund for Craven. It will however be scheduled for consideration in due course.

“The section 24 agreement is a mechanism whereby the county council is required to give consent to certain items of proposed spending from the district councils in order to safeguard the finances of the new North Yorkshire Council following its launch on April 1.”