Councillors at Ryedale DC have reportedly voted against merging frontline services with Hambleton DC.

According to the local press, plans to combine collecting council tax, business rates and benefit payments were defeated by just one vote, with councillors voting 11-10 against the proposals. The plans involved replacing Ryedale's IT system with Hambleton's. Ryedale councillors rejected the proposals because they felt their IT system was better. Staff at Ryedale had also written to the councillors expressing their concerns. No-one was available from either council for comment.