The Conservative administration has approved plans to reduce Lifeline services and increase charges in Richmondshire, Harrogate, Selby and Ryedale. The decision was made by senior councillors and officers without a public consultation or a vote of all councillors. Cllr Foster said a fresh vote was needed to restore confidence in the council’s democratic processes and ensure the Lifeline proposals received the scrutiny they deserved. In response, the council said the chair of the committee concluded that the councillor should not take part in the vote. The authority said the vote stood and the meeting would not be re-held.