Otley councillors were accused of stagnation at this week's setting of the town council precept.

Opposition members on the council accused the ruling Liberal Democrat group of failing to do anything substantial in the town while increasing the amount to be paid by council tax payers by 12 per cent.

But Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale), acting chairman of the council's executive board, accused Labour members of failing to understand the budget process, while pointing out that support had been given to CCTV camera installation and to provision for expected renovation of the civic centre.

He also pointed out that around £20,000 had been put back into the council reserves to cover repairs to the Jubilee Clock.

The committee at its meeting on Monday heard that the town precept was to rise from £234,000 to £265,000.

New projects for the coming year include £1,000 for CCTV cameras in the town, while ongoing expenditures include Christmas lights, playground maintenance and management of Gallows Hill.

Coun Campbell said: "The rise in the precept was simply to cover our reserves that we spent on the jubilee clock. I do appreciate it will be a rise, but I feel that the majority of the public will accept that."

Coun Gerald McGowan, who put forward an amendment that would have seen the precept reduced by £10,000, claimed the majority of expenditure was on administration.

And Coun John Eveleigh, leader of the Labour group on the town council, which did not put forward an alternative budget, said people in the town would be very disappointed.

"To say this is prudent is stretching the bounds of creativity. An increase of about £30,000 is over the top, particularly when you look at the areas for priorities in the coming year.

"When we controlled the council we were criticised for our budgets, but at least people saw something, we got the bus service running and one year we put the precept up to get a community development worker and she has brought thousands of pounds into the town."

Coun Eveleigh thought money put back into the council reserves to cover repairs to the Jubilee Clock should be paid back gradually.

And he thought it was perfectly reasonable to carry out what the council proposed to do in the coming year for less money.

Coun Campbell pointed out that the Labour group should not criticise the budget proposals if it was not willing to put forward its own alternative budget.

"You don't have the ability to put forward a budget and you want to say something, so you just say the rise is too high."

And he claimed the council was proposing new things for the coming year.

"CCTV is new and we are being prudent. There is money being spent on administration, but if we want things done, then we have to employ people to do them. It is patently obvious that (the Labour group) does not understand the budget progress and I won't be lectured by a group who doesn't understand the budget process."