FOR the first time in ten years Otley Town Council has approved a precept increase of below the rate of inflation.

The rise of 2.15per cent will generate an extra £6,000 and the council has pledged money from its reserves to cover its spending plans.

Despite having to fork out £13,000 for a fire alarm system at the Civic Centre, £8,000 for 2003 election expenses and a £4,000 electricity bill, the council's Executive Committee have pledged cash for young people's projects and agreed to buy laptop computers for councillors.

Councillor Gerald McGowan told the council that £5,000 would be put into developing projects for young people across the town.

"At the Community Development Commi-ttee meeting in November we had a long discussion about the problems that were caused in the town by what was really quite a small number of youths hanging around and making a nuisance of themselves."

He said a series of meetings were held together with the police, staff from Prince Henry's Grammar School, youth workers and city council sports officers.

"All attending were very enthusiastic and welcomed input and possible resources from Otley Town Council as well as matched funding from other parties.

"A number of possible projects have been identified and are to be worked up. With this, we could have projects that will give the young people the less chance to complain that there is nothing to do in Otley."

In addition, between £15,000 to £16,000 will be spent over the next two years on supplying councillors with lap top computers.

Coun McGowan said the computerisation of the council was a necessary step as part of its bid for Quality Council status.

"All councillors who want one will have a lap-top so that documents and background papers can be sent to them, This will save huge amounts on paper and postage."

Coun McGowan added that it was unfortunate that £8,000 would have to be paid for election expenses and an electricity bill.

The council has just received a bill from Leeds City Council to cover the cost of running the local elections in the town in May 2003.

In addition, the wrong tariff set by its electricity supplier for more than a year meant that it had now been landed with having to pay £4,500 in arrears.

"Only now have we been billed by Leeds City Council for the 2003 election. Despite their delay, they are asking for immediate payment. Of course, we will have the full town council elections this year and will have to find a similar amount to pay.

"And then there's the electricity bill. We have suddenly got a bill for £4,500 arrears. Our accountant has been arguing with our suppliers, but there is no doubt that we have consumed the electricity, so we will have to pay it."

Monday's meeting started with an adjournment to allow the council time to read an alternative budget prepared by opposition councillors.

In an often bad tempered meeting, council leader, Coun John Eveleigh criticised the Liberal Democrat members for leaving their budget proposals to the last minute and reminded them how they had hit out at Labour members in the past for doing the same thing.

He added: "We are dealing with public money and we do think that it is right that council's should act prudently.

"I think this is the first time that there has been a proposed rise that is less than inflation and I do believe it offers excellent value for money to residents."