Job cuts 'to keep tax low'

Pensioners held a protest about council tax rises earlier in January

More council jobs are to be cut in an attempt to keep tax increases to a minimum.

Kent County Council has said it will axe 75 positions this year, on top of 300 job losses last year, in order to meet its budget.

The council has announced a council tax rise of 5.2% for Kent residents - lower than the national average of 7.3%.

It said the emphasis was on "shifting money into front-line services for the public by cutting overheads and bureaucracy".

The Conservative leader of Kent County Council, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, said money was being invested in better school buildings and social services.

We are announcing a £408m programme over three years to rebuild some of the schools in Kent Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Kent County Council leader

He said: "We are going to be spending more on schools than the Secretary of State for Education has instructed us to.

"We've got some growth in social services where we are concerned about rising demand, particularly in mental health disabilities, where we have a very strong rise in demand.

"But perhaps most of all, in the capital school building programme we are announcing a £408m programme over three years to rebuild some of the schools in Kent."

He said £20m would be spent on resurfacing and repairing the county's roads.

'Awash with money'

The jobs being cut as part of a £16.2m savings package would be in central administration and support, he said.

The leader of Kent County Council's Labour group, Mike Eddy, questioned the need for the 5.2% increase in council tax bills.

He accused the ruling Conservative party of being "awash with money, but still whinging" over what was a "superb settlement".

"They've got a very, very large capital settlement which is what is allowing them finally to start investing in school infrastructure," he said.

"I don't have a problem if they are spending it wisely but there are a number of areas where they are spending badly."

Last year, Kent residents faced a 12.5% increase in council tax.