Council sets budget for coming year

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has agreed a budget for 2017/18 which is aimed at protecting frontline services for residents.

The Council agreed a budget of £10,943,430 for 2017/18 and a council tax increase of 1.9% - a Band D increase to £142.18 - and special district expenses increases to £49.05 in Leek and £9.86 in Biddulph.

Councillor Sybil Ralphs, Leader of the Council and portfolio holder for finance, said: "We know that we face challenges in the years ahead and we are working hard to ensure we are in a strong position to respond to those challenges.

"The Council has already laid some of the foundations for a resilient response - we have a successful local record of setting and achieving stretching financial and performance targets and the alliance with High Peak continues to realise efficiencies and savings.

"In agreeing our budget for the next twelve months our residents and businesses can have confidence that our plans are realistic and fully risk-assessed as well as being robust and deliverable."