Telford & Wrekin Council to spend extra £6 million protecting vulnerable adults and young

The authority plans to allocate an extra £4.45 million to children's safeguarding during the 2017/18 financial year, while a further £1.34 million will be provided to help phase in cuts to services that support vulnerable adults.

A £2.5 million "draw down budget" has also been set aside to last until 2020 for services for vulnerable adults.

The authority plans to raise council tax by 1.2 per cent from April, on top of a 3.2 per cent rise brought in last year. It is also seeking views on proposals to increase the rate by 4.2 per cent in 2018/19 and a further 1.2 per cent in 2019/20.

The council will also provide more money to expand its NuPlace housing programme, and has pledged further investment in the borough's roads and infrastructure.

Funding will be provided to support the voluntary sector and the authority has pledged to continue its backing of Telford Crisis Network, which provides food bank services in the area.

Council leader Shaun Davies said the measures, which were put forward at last night's meeting of the authority's cabinet, showed the ruling group was "on the side of the community".

The proposals will now go out to consultation until February 5, with a view to being presented to cabinet on February 23 and agreed by the full council on March 2.

It comes amid a backdrop of further cuts in funding from central Government.

Councillor Davies warned earlier this week that the authority would have to reduce its budget by another £35 million – on top of £100 million cuts already made – and called for a fairer funding settlement for Shropshire.

A report to last night's meeting said the council will have made savings of £96 million by the end of the current financial year.

Councillor Davies said: "We have a duty to be on the side of the community, not cut and run.

"Everyone deserves to live in a safe and clean environment with good roads and footways and access to good schools and health services. They deserve to have a good job in a thriving economy."

Councillor Lee Carter, cabinet member for finance, said: "The march towards the day when the Government gives zero financial support to Telford & Wrekin continues at pace.

"But we have to remain focused on using what resources we can to support the things that matter most to people.

"We are determined to continue our work, to be pragmatic but creative so that we can protect frontline services but also do things for the betterment of our town and all its people."

The council is already spending £17.4 million on installing new traffic signals at several roundabouts and junctions across the borough.