Budgets

Education and care services are at the heart of this year's budget.

Key elements of the budget include:

• £1.2million for older people's care
• £2million to support adults and children with physical or learning disabilities
• £1.4million on care for vulnerable children

Cllr Phil Wheeler, Convener for Finance and Resources - "We have managed to freeze Council Tax and protect essential frontline services. We have also added £2m to our reserve funds to cope with unexpected circumstances and unforeseen situations such as flooding, all while the Council faces the greatest financial challenges it has experienced in living memory."

Councillor Jenny Dawe, Council Leader - "Work is already underway to bring about significant cost savings for the current financial year, and we are on target to save over £26million. The Council must continue to improve the efficiency and productivity across all services and where appropriate look at other ways of delivering them. Sharing services with other local authorities and public bodies is another option we are looking at which could help to modernise the Council."