The proposal by Tory Chiefs at North Yorkshire County Council to impose a 2.94% council tax rate for 2010/11 after consulting on 2.5% increase is a slap in the face for Council Tax payers.

Even 2.5% is high and I attended the County Council Executive meeting to protest on behalf of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall that it was not morally sustainable to consult on a lower figure and then arbitrarily impose a higher one.

The claim that the money is needed to cover for the costs of winter gritting and the aftermath of damaged roads is just a sham. The bad winter is a “one off” emergency for which untouched reserves of £15M are available.

We can all understand that the economic crisis will be stretching the County Council budget but ordinary taxpayers housekeeping budgets are also feeling the strain and are right to ask why, with £15M spare, the Council wants even more of their hard earned cash to put into their coffers.