Councils get £3m boost in grant aid

Shropshire's two big councils have each seen their Government grant for next year increase by more than £3 million. Shropshire's two big councils have each seen their Government grant for next year increase by more than £3 million. There is extra cash too for the county's police and fire services in the local government finance settlement for 2009-10 announced today. The grant to Shropshire County Council is £90.145 million, a rise of £3.253 million (3.74 per cent). For Telford & Wrekin Council the grant is £67.415 million, an increase of £3.423 million and a rise of 5.35 in percentage terms. It was described as "one of the best settlements in the country" by Telford MP David Wright who claimed there was no excuse for any council tax rise or service cuts. But council leader Andrew Eade was less enthusiastic, saying the authority had no choice but to put up council tax. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star.