South Craven residents are facing a council tax rise.

North Yorkshire County Council has warned of a possible two per cent hike.

It said the increase, the first in four years, was necessary in the face of government funding cuts.

Councillors will be asked in February to approve a budget based on the two per cent rise.

“Naturally we would prefer not to present our taxpayers with an increase in their bills,” said council leader John Weighell.

“That is why – since the budget of February 2011 – we have frozen council tax, even though the financial consequences for the authority have been significant.

“We are on track to save £94m over the four years ending in March 2015, and we estimate we already have to find a further £77m over the next four years.

“This represents a cut in our spending power of more than a third in eight years.”

He added: “A rise of two per cent is equivalent to 41p a week for the average household.

“Whilst any increase is regrettable, it is my belief that such a relatively small rise in individual tax bills – following three years of freezes – would be reasonable.”