North Yorkshire Police Authority (NYPA) should have a lower increase in its share of next year's council tax bills, according to one of its members. Labour councillor Ruth Potter is recommending an increase of no more than 2.5% for the next financial year. She said:

"At a time when everyone is being expected to tighten their belts, the local Police Authority should do the same. We are not talking about an organisation looking at a serious budget shortfall here; North Yorkshire Police is projected to have a budget underspend again this year after underspending by £7m last year.

"I'm concerned that the Police Authority is not achieving greater accountability and is not setting a budget based on greater efficiency and effectiveness in policing. It strikes me as insensitive that hard-pressed York residents should be asked to pay this extra money when it is not needed. There is no reason why 0.5% less on council tax could not have been covered through a vacancy factor from staff turnover.

"I think the Police Authority approaches the precept level without the stringency that it would do if it represented a much higher proportion of council tax. But in fact it should be trying to be just as careful with the public's money as every other public sector body, especially at this time".