Caithness CWS - Front Page Bulletins - Febraury 2003

The Highland Council today (Thursday) confirmed plans to inject ï¿½30.5 million into its budget of ï¿½412 million in the new financial year, which commences on 1 April.

The council will be increasing spending on key frontline services including:-

Education Culture and Sport - ï¿½11 million

TEC Services - ï¿½10.2 million

Social Work - ï¿½4.6 million

Police and Fire - ï¿½3.3 million

Property and Architectural Services - ï¿½800,000

At the same time, council services have been asked to contribute towards an efficiency target of ï¿½2.75 million. A new Business Improvement Team is being assembled to identify specific improvement and efficiency projects.

This will enable the council to contain a Council Tax increase at Band D at ï¿½50 giving a Band D of ï¿½989.

The council will meet on Thursday 13 February to confirm the tax for 2003 ï¿½ 2004 and give an indicative increase for 2004 ï¿½ 2005 and 2005 ï¿½ 2006.

Vice-Convener, Councillor Alison Magee, Chairman of the Budget Working Group said: "This has been a long and complex budget process but I am pleased we have identified a growth of ï¿½30 million on frontline services and contained a tax increase to ï¿½50 at Band D."