From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, February 05,2008

Devon County Council's Executive today has agreed budget proposals that will tackle antisocial behaviour, provide more support for young people, and address climate change.

The proposed budget is subject to agreement by the Council's Full Council which will meet on 14 February.

At a massive £1.1 billion, this year's budget will be Devon's largest ever budget to date.

With increases across the board for individual services, the Council is focusing specific investment in Youth Services and anti-social behaviour initiatives - one of the top investment priorities as suggested by people of Devon.

The £500,000 investment increases spending on the Youth Service by 11% and will allow the County Council to work in partnership to help establish preventative measures to tackle anti social behaviour.

Services overall for Children and Young People will rise by as much as 13.3% in cash terms year to year.

The County Council's response to climate change is high on this year's agenda as a further £500,000 will be directed to highways maintenance gully emptying. This is on top of the £1.5 million already agreed to improve drainage to help reduce the impact of flooding on the County's roads.

Spending on highway maintenance in other areas will also rise.

There will be increased investment to provide more support for adults to enable them to continue living as independently as possible in their own homes.

And greater investment too in providing specialist services such those for people with dementia, which are currently in short supply in Devon.

This year will see a record building programme of £185 million, which will bring significant benefits to the local economy as new building injects new money into the local building industry and into jobs.

Thanks largely to a better than expected Government settlement, the proposed budget will be part funded by a 3.9% Council Tax rise, which according to the Local Government Association is just below the national average Council Tax rise this year. This is the third year running that the County Council's Council Tax increase has fallen.

Today's proposal has been shaped by the views of the many people who have so far contributed to the Council's budget consultations.

Cllr Greenslade thanked all those who have taken time to let the Council know where they think the investment priorities should be.

Devon County Council's Chairman of the Executive Committee and Leader of the Council, Cllr Brian Greenslade, said:

"This is a significant budget with some very good news in it. We have already made efficiency savings this year of £13 million and have plans to save a further £15 million in efficiencies next year. Coupled to that, with Government grant better than we had dared to hope, we are able to bring forward the largest budget ever which reflects the priorities of people in Devon.

"That said, although Government grant has been better this year, it is still way below being a fair settlement for Devon. We are still £48 per person worse off than even the average County, equating to a massive £36 million a year less grant coming into the county to support public services.

"We pleased therefore that through careful management, with significant investment in key areas, we're able to reduce the Council Tax rise this year, which having fallen consecutively over three years, is now at a level just below the national average rise for Council Tax."