A BUDGET TO SUPPORT CAMBRIDGESHIRE'S COMMUNITIES

The budget set yesterday (Thursday, February 12) by Cambridgeshire County Council will see millions of pounds invested in services to help the community’s most vulnerable members and improve road safety.
These priorities for investment have been set following extensive public consultation and include an extra £5.3 million into children services, an extra £5.8 into adult services and an extra £3.8 million into highway and access, as well as further help for communities during the recession.

The Council has also listened to parish councils and residents who want to see more investment in maintaining roads and footpaths. An extra £2 million is being invested over two years on road safety and maintenance schemes.

More than £18 million of efficiency savings have been made, the majority of which will be reinvested in support for vulnerable adults and children.

The budget will increase Council Tax for 2009/10 by 3.9 per cent. The increase means that the council tax on an average band D property will increase by 73 pence per week, or £38 a year.

Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Jill Tuck, said: “I have been to almost every roadshow and public meeting on setting our budget and I was left in no doubt what people want. We have a duty to help our communities through this recession while at the same time provide and protect the services they are going to most need. These are the same services which will have more calls on them than ever before. We have set a well balanced, credible and achievable budget which reflects the needs and requests of the communities we serve. There is major investment and major efficiency savings in this budget which will deliver real improvements and help for our citizens.”
ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Contact Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Jill Tuck 07725 958592.

For further political contacts: Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor David Jenkins 07739 758859; Labour Leader Councillor Paul Sales 07765 435200.

Our Vision – Creating communities where people want to live and work: now and in the future

Our Objectives:

· Managing and delivering the growth and development of Cambridgeshire’s communities
· Tackling climate change
· Enabling people to thrive, achieve their potential and improve their quality of life
· Supporting and protecting vulnerable people

For more information log onto www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

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