COUNCIL Tax payers in Gloucestershire face a 1.99 per cent increase in the largest portion of their bills from April.

Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet approved the proposed budget for the coming financial year and are now inviting people in the county to comment on it.

But them Labour group attacked the proposed increase as "the wrong choice".

The £519.6 million budget agreed by the Conservative Cabinet last Wednesday (December 22) will make up the largest part of Council Tax bills in the county.

The county’s six district councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner have yet to announce their budgets.

The proposed 1.99 per cent increase would put an extra £10.2 million in the county council’s coffers.

On top of that, the council is proposing a one per cent adult social care levy, identifying around £3.7 million to protect vulnerable adults.

Together, the increases would put around £3.50 a month on the bill for an "average" Band D property.

Spending plans include an extra £100 million for roads, a £150 million injection into school buildings, investment in market towns and high streets and ongoing support and protection of the most vulnerable.

An additional £14million is planned for children and young people’s services with almost £9million set to be invested in services for vulnerable adults and those living with a disability.

Nearly £20 million is planned for school improvements and maintenance schemes.The council also plans to spend £900,000 on highways maintenance and £500,000 on drainage works.

A £300,000 Speedwatch safety fund is also being proposed, which would enable the council to work with district, town and parish councils and residents to identify communities where speed awareness activity like a ’20 is plenty’ campaign would make a difference to community safety.

The budget allocates £30k to each of the 53 councillors to spend next year on highways schemes in their areas.

A further £1million fund will also go towards tackling climate change.

The council says it has identified £13 million in savings and efficiencies for next year.

More information about the proposed spending and how to have your say is available at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/budget2022-23.

The public consultation runs until midday on Friday, January 21.

At its meeting on Wednesday, January 26, the Cabinet will consider the views expressed through the consultation before proposing a final budget for the full county council to vote on at its meeting in February.