Ryedale District Council (RDC) has been described as a ‘circus’ ahead of its demise next week.

The comments come following RDC’s final full council meeting at which a package of £3 million in grants for local charities, schools and organisations was agreed.

However, a row has escalated over the funding which will now face final approval with the new North Yorkshire Council which comes into effect from April 1.

Councillor Di Keal, chair of Ryedale’s Policy and Resources Committee, said: “Over the last few months we have worked extremely hard to run a grants programme to distribute accumulated money to a number of extremely worthwhile projects in Ryedale. On behalf of all the applicants to the fund, and the thousands of Ryedale residents of all ages who will benefit, I am strongly urging members of the new North Yorkshire Council to agree these funds as soon as possible.

“This money was raised through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on housing developments in Ryedale, and it is only right that it is spent on projects in Ryedale.”

Successful applicants to the CIL grant fund include Norton School, Kirkham Henry Performing Arts CIC, Malton Town Council Rainbow Lane Pump Track Project, Ryedale Learning Trust Ryedale School, Slingsby Sports and Social Club Slingsby and Ryedale Special Families.

Other projects are Malton Community Sports Centre (Malton School), Helmsley Open Air Swimming Pool Pavilion Rebuild, Ryedale Environment Group Kirkbymoorside Town Council and Pickering Recreation Club.

At the full council 18 voted in favour of the applications with one abstention and only one against.

Cllr Keal added: “The successful applicants to the fund went through a very rigorous process managed by council officers to ensure they fitted into strict guidelines for the spending of CIL funds, overseen by our Grants Working Party, so we know their projects are of exceptional quality and that the applicants can deliver them – they just need the funds releasing to do so.

“It would be wholly wrong of the new council to fail to deliver the grants and pick the pockets of these organisations, including a charity for children with disabilities, several schools and sports clubs, especially after the huge amount of work they have put into applying for the funds and raising match funding.“It is deeply disappointing that one of the councillors who represent Ryedale people, Cllr Keane Duncan (Norton), chose to vote against the applications and has stated several times that he will not support the projects at the new council.

“He claims that the money will be required for a new school in Norton in the future, but should this school go ahead the new council will receive more Community Infrastructure Levy funding from the development where it would be built.

“The new council is £30 million in debt before it even opens its doors on April 1 but under rules governing the spending of CIL funds, this money could not be used to pay down that deficit. Ryedale is already likely to hand over around £10 million to the new council, so there is no need to rob the residents of Ryedale of their own money – an action that would tarnish the reputation of the new council before it has even started.

“Make no mistake, the soon to be ex-members of Ryedale District Council, the applicants from local organisations, and the public, will be watching the actions of the new North Yorkshire Council very carefully in the coming weeks.”

Cllr Steve Mason said: “Slingsby Social Club has raised an amazing £41,000 in match funding in three weeks since they heard that their application had been approved by Ryedale’s Grants Working Party. This shows the commitment in our communities to deliver on projects they believe in for the benefit of local people.”

However, Cllr Keane Duncan, who will become a member of the new council, said: “This attempt to blow CIL funding in a last-minute spending spree is an extremely reckless act.

“It risks leaving Ryedale residents without genuine and much-needed infrastructure improvements, such as a new primary school on Beverley Road and a new bypass junction at York Road.

“It is right that spending of Ryedale’s infrastructure fund is determined transparently and fairly, only after a proper assessment of what is most needed.

“Final say should rest with Ryedale’s newly-elected councillors rather than those who are soon to be redundant.

“Cllr Keal has misled community organisations with the promise of funding she had no ability nor mandate to deliver after she was resoundingly rejected by the public at the ballot box last May.

“Luckily, her time is now up. The circus performance that Ryedale District Council has sadly become is over.”