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£10m of cuts to Warks County Council budget
Warwickshire County Council have approved plans to slash £10 million from next year's budget.
The cost of adult social care is being raised, while community grants will be reduced and a transport service put on for over 16s still at school withdrawn in an attempt to balance the authority's books.
The county's music service will also see around a quarter of its £946,000 budget cut, with Warwickshire hoping to set up a partnership with Coventry and Solihull to share the burden of free music lessons for school children.
Council tax will also rise by 2.4% next year - meaning an additional £27 a year for a Band D property - although that's the smallest percentage increase in a decade.
Councillor Alan Farnell, Council Leader, says: "The county council is working hard to continue to provide services in a tough financial environment."
"We are moving forward with our priorities – raising educational attainment; caring for older people and people with disabilities; creating a sustainable environment and economy; and protecting communities."
"I am pleased that we are set to do so for the coming year without passing on a large bill to the taxpayer."
Opposition parties have spoken out against the plans, however, saying that the cuts will have a major impact on frontline services.
Liberal Democrat leader Jerry Roodhouse said: "A better idea would have been to reduce the cabinet from 9 members to 5 and to stop some of the glossy publications that are sent out to local people."
"These measures could save us £80,000."