COUNCIL TAX PLEDGE

Earlier this year, the council approved a tax increase of 4.7 per cent for the current year, followed by 4.3 per cent in 07/08, 3.9 per cent in 08/09 and 3.5 per cent in 09/10.

Outside schools, the government only funds about a quarter of spending and the total has been increased this by 2.7 per cent or 2.1 million for 2007/08.

Deputy council leader Tony Reid, said: 'Once again we have been given the minimum grant increase of 2.7 per cent but this is not enough to even cover simple inflation on all our costs.

'However, we will stick to our guns and continue with our plans to bring down council tax increases. We planned for this and we are determined to not exceed the council tax increase we set for next year of 4.3 per cent.

'Our plans have ensured we can focus our resources on our most vulnerable residents. But we also recognise our responsibility for services used by everyone, such as roads and waste disposal.

'We are spending an extra 6 million on adult social care but it means all other services are facing a cash freeze or a very modest increase.

'It also means that we have to find 9 million of savings next year to keep to our council tax plans.

'We aim to do this through even bigger efficiency savings but we cannot shirk from looking at what we provide and how we provide it. Some very difficult decisions will have to be made.'