A REVISED Gloucestershire County Council budget will be considered at the next cabinet meeting - with a focus on helping the vulnerable and improving roads.

The proposed budget, which will be debated on Wednesday, February 4, will include a council tax freeze, more money to improve roads – including a £1 million cash injection to support the A417 missing link solution – and further funds to help safeguard children

During December and January, residents as well as councillors, partners and parish and town councils had their say on the county council’s spending priorities.

They advised the council to continue focussing support on the most vulnerable and invest more money in improving the county’s roads.

More than half of those questioned said that they wanted to accept the government funding and freeze council tax. 83% agreed that that the council should focus their care on the most vulnerable.

Alongside this, 91% of responders said the council should invest in infrastructure to create a thriving economy.

As a result the proposed plan will include:

• Around £0.75 million will be spent on the Gloucestershire Local Welfare Scheme which replaced the Crisis Management Scheme to provide one-off practical support including food and provisions for families in need and vulnerable individuals.

• Funds of £0.15 million have been allocated to the public health budget specifically for 0-5 year olds.

• An additional £0.9 million for safeguarding, including a fully operational multi-agency safeguarding hub and recruiting extra staff to fight child exploitation and abuse.

• An additional investment of £0.8 million into adoption.

• An extra £0.3 million to help people with a learning disability into employment.

• An additional £1million to support the highways agency to prepare for the A417 missing link solution.

• Nearly £18 million capital investment for highways.

Cabinet member for finance and change Cllr Ray Theodoulou said: "We have listened to local people who have made it clear they want us to protect vulnerable people and look after our roads, as well as freeze council tax.

“We have committed to spend more on the areas we feel reflect what is important to people and that will also help us make the savings we need to make as budgets remain under pressure.

“The next step is to agree the detailed proposal with cabinet.”

The proposed budget works in line with the priorities council's savings programme Meeting the Challenge - Together We Can which looks to make savings of around £75 million over the next three years to meet the cost of Gloucestershire's ageing population, and expected reductions in central government grant.

The proposed budget is £420 million for 2015/16 and the headlines are now:

- Adult services - £144 million (inc help for people with learning disabilities, older people, vulnerable adults)

- Public Health - £25 million (ring-fenced grant, can't be used for other areas)

- Children & Families - £94 million (inc schools, youth support, children's centres, early years

- Communities & Infrastructure - £84 million (inc highways, trading standards, libraries, fire service and waste)