Keeping our promises, listening to residents

12.00.00am GMT Tue 14th Feb 2006

North Somerset Council's ruling Liberal Democrat Executive agreed their final budget proposals for 2006/07 at a meeting today.

The proposals will be considered and the council tax will be formally set at a meeting of the full council on 28 February.

The total proposed council tax increase (excluding parish & town council precepts, fire authority and police authority - who all bill separately) is £49.02 per annum or 4.9% for a Band D property.

Councillor Mike Bell, Liberal Democrat executive member for finance, said: "This budget is a milestone in the way North Somerset Council operates. For the first time we made a clear commitment about council tax and promised no increase above 5%. We have kept that promise and, despite a low level of government grant, have delivered a 4.9% council tax increase.

"We are grateful for the contributions we have received from the public and the input of our fellow councillors. We have listened carefully to the points raised and have made significant changes to the budget since it was originally proposed before Christmas. I believe we now have a budget that is

good for the people of North Somerset and that councillors from all sides can support.

"Residents told us that they were unhappy about cuts to sustainability, so we have protected those services. People told us they were worried about plans to charge vulnerable people for transport to day centres. We agreed, and have abandoned the idea.

"Residents told us they wanted more facilities for children and young people. So we have injected much needed cash into improving our play areas. People told us that street cleaning and highways maintenance was a priority, so we have protected them from cutbacks.

"Residents said they valued the meals on wheels service and didn't want to see cuts. We agree and will not seek to save cash by hitting the most vulnerable in our community.

"Residents told us they wanted parking and mileage costs paid to staff tackled to reduce the impact on council tax bills. We have listened and, with the support of our staff, we will achieve half a million pounds in savings over three years by cutting costs to the minimum.

"This budget has not been easy. We have had to make more than £7 million in efficiency savings. Some of our staff will lose their jobs or be deployed elsewhere. We know that we have much more to do to make the council efficient and effective and we are determined to do it.

"We have begun a transformation in the way North Somerset Council does business. We are standing up to the Government - on issues like our funding grant and the need for Weston's sea defences to be enhanced.

"We are making promises to local people - and keeping them. We are making efficiency and effectiveness our bywords - and seeing things through with a tough and businesslike approach. We won't always get things right, but the Liberal Democrats are determined to deliver."