The council also announced there will be no increase this year in car parking charges in Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Ripon as well.

In Harrogate, Victoria multi-storey will increase by 10p to £1.10. Other car parks in the town will be pegged at the 2008/9 charges.

The council will not be introducing charges for car parks in Boroughbridge or any others in the district which are currently free of charge.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, Coun Don Mackenzie, said all councils had to review their charges on an annual basis but he was very mindful of the recession and the impact it was having on household bills and businesses' income.

He said: "The council does rely on income from off-street parking to support a wide range of services we provide, but businesses rely on shoppers and we need to attract them to our towns.

"Through good financial management, the council has introduced a budget that will see no reduction in council services whilst, at the same time, allowing us to keep parking charges at last year's costs."