ST HELENS has set the second lowest council tax in the country to date. Last night (Wednesday 10th) it was agreed to bring in a 1.95 per cent increase.

And there was further good news for the town as Council Leader Mike Doyle pledged that Council Tax increases for the next three years would be kept to a minimum of not more than 2.5 per cent.

It means that St Helens looks set to have the second lowest council tax increase in a metropolitan area.

As he unveiled the coming year's budget (1999/2000), Councillor Doyle said that this had only been possible by careful and prudent management of Council budgets and years of lobbying for a fairer share of Government grant.

There would be more money for education and social services via the Government's increased resources for these two vital areas. And Councillor Doyle further revealed a £5-million package of investment in key areas of public concern such as parks, highways, youth issues and enhancing the town centre environment to boost retail trade and help businesses to create jobs.

Says Councillor Doyle: "Cost effective management of our finances and our long fight for more funding has given us a solid base on which to provide first class services for our 180,000 strong community.

"But there is no room for complacency and I would like to make this pledge that we will continue with a stringent management approach to the budget to meet our three year spending pattern".

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