Shropshire County Council has agreed an above-inflation tax rise of 4.4 per cent, which it is claimed will lead to more investment in services for the “most vulnerable” in the community.The Conservative administration’s budget was backed by 24 votes to 10, with a handful of abstentions, at yesterday’s full council meeting. For the average band D householder, the county share of the council tax bill will be £1,018.59 – a rise of 83p a week.

Alternative opposition budgets were defeated.

The Liberal Democrat group put forward spending plans which proposed a 3.8 per cent tax rise while the Labour group proposed a budget carrying a four per cent increase.

Both alternatives called for the sale of the council’s remaining 27 smallholdings to raise extra cash for investment in services.

Council leader Councillor Malcolm Pate said that the authority was planning to spend £446 million this financial year.

“The lion’s share will continue to be spent on schools and services for children and young people,” he said.

The council had received £2.3 million more in its grant settlement from Government than expected, which had helped it to maintain a “modest” tax increase of 4.4 per cent and provide for growth in services that would better meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

Councillor Pate said: “The additional funding comes from changes in the national funding formula, one of the effects of which is to deliver more funding to meet the needs of older people.

“However, we are disappointed the Government continues to fail in its measures for funding small schools.”

He said the council would also be making savings of £3.3 million in total and these would be delivered with the “least possible impact” on priority services.

Over the next three years, there would be an extra £6 million – on average £2 million a year – going into services for older people.

Councillor Pate said his administration was delivering against its key election promises.

“High quality services, delivered efficiently,” he said. “That is our trademark as an authority.”