A LOCAL authority has set an inflation-busting council tax demand after being told entrances to a town and its estates would look untidy unless it took on work previously performed by another council.

Residents in Thirsk will pay 7.39 per cent extra to their town council after members agreed to raise its precept to £126,700, following a 12.3 per cent rise last year.

A meeting of the authority heard councillors had scrutinised every aspect of the budget in an effort to maintain or lower spending where possible, but an additional £8,700 would be needed to cover the council's expenses this year.

Members were told the cost of running the Millgate public toilets had risen to £19,500, despite having been assured they would face an annual £14,000 bill when they took over their management from Hambleton District Council in 2012.

Councillors said the loss of £2,500 from North Yorkshire County Council towards cutting verges and other grassed areas presented a question over whether it should continue to maintain the areas.

Town clerk Howard Kemp said: "A lot of the grassed areas are on estates and have been done from time immemorial - if we stop there will be a reaction."

After agreeing to up its grass-cutting budget by £1,500, members said they would examine the issue and whether it would be possible to reduce the frequency of cutting, while it was suggested an insurance claim could be made to repair damage to the mosaic in Millennium Green.

In other areas of the town, such as Long Street, it was suggested residents could help maintain plants to help lower maintenance costs, while Councillor John Bell said the £3,500 given to Thirsk In Bloom for numerous unsponsored planters could be lowered by changing the type of plants used.

Mayor of Thirsk, Councillor Janet Watson said: "Thirsk In Bloom do a fantastic job, but they have got to understand there is a limit to what we can give."

Councillors also passed calls for a £1,000 to help the town celebrate its role in the signing of the Magna Carta, as part of the 800th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, June 13 and for £500 towards replacing town entrance signs with ones highlighting its Magna Carta links.

Councillor David Duffey said: "The Magna Carta anniversary is a one-off event, so why are we highlighting something with signs where there is nothing to see?"

Other members said they felt the new signs would help draw tourists to the town, bolstering the local economy.