TOWN councillors in Northallerton are to examine the rules that govern them again – after discovering a meeting believed to be invalid was quite legal after all.

Their regular meeting earlier this month was declared invalid after only six members turned up, making it inquorate under their own standing orders - which say two-thirds must be there to make lawful decisions.

In the wake of that a special meeting was convened this week – with nine members present - where mayor John Forrest announced their original gathering had, in fact, been lawful after all.

He said advice had been taken and, under the 1972 Local Government Act, the set quorum for meetings should be one-third of members, which in Northallerton’s case would be four.

“Therefore we need to adjust our own standing orders,” he added.

At the original meeting members voted for a zero percent rise on the town precept, dipping £27,000 into their reserves to do so.

But since then new figures had arrived from Hambleton District Council which made an error with its original calculations, forcing a rethink..

However the town council again voted for a zero per cent rise on their charge – agreeing to use a further £10,000 from their reserves.