Council says budget will protect main services

Councillor Shaun Davies hailed "a budget of hope"

Councillors in Telford have pledged to protect front-line services as they approved £17.5m savings as part of the latest budget plans.

Council tax is set to rise by 4.99% from April, which means about an extra £100 a year, depending on parish, for those living in a Band D property.

The authority said it expected to reduce staff numbers through a recruitment freeze, and cut the frequency of some services like grass cutting.

Council leader Shaun Davies said it was "a budget that believes in Telford & Wrekin".

The Conservative opposition leader Andrew Eade told Thursday's meeting he was "greatly concerned" by the "unprecedented challenges" the council faced.

He also criticised an increase in borrowing, which he said had risen from £97m to £600m since the current administration took control.

Labour said it was investing in house-building, infrastructure and education.

Nathan England, the councillor in charge of finance, said the council tax increase - the maximum allowed without a referendum - would put £4m directly into social care.

He described it as "a vital but costly service which now accounts for three-quarters of our annual revenue budget".

Contrasting fortunes

The local authority has contrasted its fortunes with councils like Birmingham which have issued section 114 orders, a declaration that they cannot balance their budgets.

It said its financial strategy had been "carefully developed" to make savings while protecting investment and key services.

Neighbouring Shropshire Council has budgeted for cuts of £62m in the coming year, which it estimates could equal the loss of 300 full-time equivalent jobs.