County council's budget aims to help out first-time buyers and businesses (From Stroud News and Journal)
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County council's budget aims to help out first-time buyers and businesses
1:00pm Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By SNJ Reporter
GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Council is proposing more money to assist first time buyers with getting on the property ladder and extra cash to help businesses grow as part of its budget this year.
The authority is also planning to freeze council tax and invest more into adult and children's services for 2013/14.
GCC is set to receive £4.1 million more than expected from its council tax base and this money is being used to make investments in new projects, boost existing services and help pay off debt, council chiefs say.
The cabinet will be asked to agree the proposed budget at a meeting today (Wednesday, February 6) before it is put to full council on February 20.
Central Government has cut GCC's funding by 3.6% for the next financial year, meaning the council's overall budget will drop from £425 million in 2012/13 to £409 million for 2013/14.
In 2010, the authority announced a savings target of £114 million by 2014/15. More than £65 million has already been saved with the council on target to save over £100 million by the end of 2013/14.
