RESIDENTS can still give their views on Gloucestershire County Council’s proposed spending plans to save £8.4million.

The proposed budget for 2016/17 is £411.66 million – a reduction of £8.4million from 2015/16. This figure rises to £416.35million if the adult services levy is applied.

A public consultation is underway until Friday, January 22 and opinions will be considered when full council confirm and ratify the draft budget.

People are being asked if they think the council has the ‘right’ priorities and the potential council tax increases.

Gloucestershire County Council currently charges £40 council tax per year less than average county council and £150 per year less than the highest charging.

Next year, the council is proposing a 1.99 per cent council tax increase – the first raise in six years. It is also considering a social care levy of up to two per cent in addition to this increase.

In his autumn spending review the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced the ability for local authorities to raise a two per cent council tax levy specifically to support care for older people.

If the new levy were to be introduced it would raise an additional £4.7million which could only be spent on vulnerable adults, paying for things like social and residential care.

For an average Band D household the proposed 1.99 per cent increase would be £21.70 per year, or £1.81 per month.

If the adult services levy is also applied – a 3.99 per cent increase - that figure goes to £43.50 per year or £3.63 per month.