WEST Sussex County Council will meet tomorrow (Friday), to agree its final budget which would see a council tax increase of 3.95 per cent, the equivalent of an extra 92 pence per week for the average band D household.

The council says there is a financial gap of £46.1million for 2017/18, resulting from demand on social care services and a continued reduction in central government funding.

It has identified £16.8million savings and is proposing to use £9.4million of reserves to protect front line services.

However, a £587million capital programme over the next five years will see investments in areas such as schools, roads and the fire and rescue service.

The council says two-thirds of residents who responded to a ‘What Matters to You’ survey in 2016 said they would be happy for their council tax to increase by 3.75 per cent or more.

Tory council leader Louise Goldsmith said: “As in previous years, we have carefully looked at our budget and have made efficiencies and savings wherever possible. We have looked closely at what residents have told us is important to them and have made considered decisions about how to spend the funds we have available to us.

“An increase in council tax is unfortunately inevitable if we want to protect frontline services.

“But we have kept the increase as low as possible in order to reduce the financial impact on our residents as much as we can.”

The proposed capital investment of £587million includes £203million for schools, £11million to improve the quality of footways and pavements, £13million on highways maintenance, £20million to work with adult social care providers to help develop the care market, £11milllion for equipment and fleet for the fire serivce and £30million to support growth projects across the county.

Mrs Goldsmith added: “While we have been careful to make savings, we have also made sure to look for opportunities for investment to ensure West Sussex remains a great place to live and work.”

The meeting, at County Hall, Chichester, will start at 10.30am and is open to the public. It will also be webcast and can be followed at www.westsussex.gov.uk