HAMPSHIRE County Council looks set to see an overall increase in spending power during the next financial year 2015/16 despite a further £30m cut as part of the Local Government Finance settlement.

In anticipation of these ongoing reductions, the county council started early with its savings programme and is on track to secure £102.5m from its March 2015 budget, which takes account of this latest 11.8 per cent grant reduction.

But while the county council is ahead of the game, there are fears in some quarters that statutory services may soon be driven beyond the level at which they can remain sustainable.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.