SOMERSET County Council has approved a freeze on council tax for a sixth straight year – but will be cost-cutting some services to the tune of £16million.

Councillors last week voted 31-17 in support of the proposals to set a budget of more than £310million of spending and £57million of capital investment.

The revenue budget, which sets out £16million of savings, also includes spending of £86million on frontline services for adults and £40million for children, while a Capital Investment Programme outlines £57million to improve schools, roads and other infrastructure.

Council leader, Cllr John Osman, said: “Despite the difficult economic climate which has seen our budget from Government reduced by £20million this year along, I’m pleased we have still been able to freeze council tax and spend millions on key areas such as looking after vulnerable adults and children, fuelling the local economy, and investing in our highways and schools.

"We have also had to make some very difficult decisions to reflect the fall in Government funding. There is no doubt we would rather not be making some of these savings, and if the Government hadn’t reduced our funding by so much we wouldn't have to.”

The council is pressing ahead with its Fairer Funding for Somerset campaign, regardless of which political power is in charge at Westminster following the General Election in May.

A protest was held outside County Hall ahead of last week’s budget meeting opposing the cuts (see text above).

The £16million savings from the budget over the next 12 months will hit almost all areas of the council’s activities.

County council receives the lion’s share of the council tax with the rest shared between district council, Avon and Somerset Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and town/parish councils.