On Monday Cheshire East's Cabinet approved the pre-budget report which recommends freezing Council Tax whilst raising the tax on second and long-term empty homes.
The Cabinet also backed plans to invest £10.1m in Adult Services, allocate an extra £0.9m for Children's Services and reduce the Places Budget by £3.9m by transforming the way the Council transport is run and improving refuse collection efficiency.
The Council is facing a 25% cut in Government grants over four years. The planned gross Council expenditure for 2011/12 is £597m, which is £4.8m lower than the previous year's figure, £601.8m.
Cheshire East Council Leader Wesley Fitzgerald said: "The Budget recognises the need to meet a rising demand for Council services – particularly those involved in care of the elderly, protecting and enhancing the lives of children and repairing and enhancing our winter-damaged roads – against a backdrop of the Government's tightening of public sector purse strings.
"The Council is well prepared. We have restructured and transformed services to create real efficiencies over the last two years. This work continued over the autumn and early winter as the Cabinet and managers worked to deliver the Budget, while protecting frontline services.
"We believe changes can be made to increase accountability to the local area, its businesses and its citizens. We recognise that delivering high-value, low-cost council services is essential to this aim."
The pre-budget report also proposes a £11.1m savings in efficiency measures including: proposed changes to conditions of employment, reducing agency staff costs, increasing energy efficiency and improving use of the Council's estate.
Councillor Fitzgerald added: "Setting a Budget always needs balance and the Council must raise the necessary funds to meet the demands from service users. The authority's spending is still based on the needs of local residents.
"Using Government comparisons, the spending power for Cheshire East Council is only £753.31 per head. This compares with an England average of £1007.21. Value in Cheshire East is already high but we will continue to do more.
"The Council will continue to engage with Government in this key year to ensure it recognises the potential in Cheshire East. I also look forward to continuing our work with local partners and businesses to maintain Cheshire East's position as a prosperous place with great potential."
Lisa Quinn, Cheshire East's borough treasurer and head of assets, said: "The Council has managed an intense process to scrutinise the Budget proposals since June. I am satisfied that the final estimates, although ambitious, are robust."
The Budget Report is due to be put before the full Council for approval on February 24th.
Click here to download a copy of the Budget Report 2011/12.
