BUDGET blues vanished as councillors celebrated topping the national league.

Relaxation of the Government stranglehold on borough finances mean jobs and services stay and the 1998/9 Council Tax rate will rise no more than inflation.

And the outlook is good for at least a further year.

Jubilant Council Leader Cllr Peter Smith told The Journal:"We've been telling you for years we've been unfairly treated.

"At last we have a Government treating us fairly.

"We've had the biggest increase in our capping in the country. It's about time we had some good news."

Announcing the authority's budget for the coming year budget Cllr Smith said the figures shgowed a growth of £1.4 billion and cuts of £1.1 billion.

But the reductions would be acheived by administration and efficiency savings.

He promised: "We're not cutting any services or staff."

Cllr Smith said the announcement was part of a two year strategy with "more to come".

The 3.5% community tax rise was, he said, one of the lowest in Metropolitan areas. It means an average increase of 30p per week for band A properties - in which class more than half the borough's homes fall - or 50 p per week for band D homes.

And a jubliant finance chairman Cllr Brian Strett said: "It just shows what can happen when a Government listens. And they have promised us more next year."

He added that the honesty of local residents paying the tax when it was due was also bringing the benefit of lower charges.

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