Date: 03 December 2006 18:53

NO SURPRISES IN BUDGET SETTLEMENT FOR CAMBRIDGESHIRE

 Early indications suggest Cambridgeshire's budget settlement for 2007-08 
announced by the Government today is in line with expectations.

Local Government Minister Phil Woolas assured MPs and local authorities that 
there would be 'no surprises' in next year's settlements - the details of 
which will be announced next week.

Coun Keith Walters, Conservative Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, 
said: "The Government's announcement appears to be in line with our 
expectations, but the devil will be in the detail.

 "But it still fails to address the many problems associated with the growth 
and success of Cambridgeshire. Adult social services, the increasing cost of 
contracted bus services and the rising cost of waste disposal are just three 
of the challenges facing Cambridgeshire.

 "We are determined to keep Council Tax as low as possible, but without 
adequate funding from Government, we will continue to struggle to provide 
essential services.

"Despite this, we are still aiming to increase service budgets by 5 per 
cent. This has been made possible by wide-ranging savings in individual 
offices."

John Reynolds