ROAD improvements and social care in Lancashire could be in line for a massive cash boost as county councillors spend a funding windfall.

The announcement came at a Lancashire County Council cabinet meeting, where councillors approved plans to raise council tax by 2.95 per cent for 2008/09.

If the county council's proposals are given the green light in February, the county's road network could receive a £10 million boost to aid repair work and improvements.

The cash windfall is a result of the annual grant from the Government being £22million more than expected.

As well as the road network, adult and community services will receive almost £5million over the next three years.

Around £2.5m of this will be spent on launching the Government's Wellbeing agenda in the county. This aims allow older people to have more home help and retain independence.

Services for children and young people will receive an additional £500,000 and household waste recycling services will be given a £2.5m boost to help the council meet environmental targets.

The council tax rise would put the county below the expected national average, which has been estimated at four per cent by the Local Government Association.

But government chiefs claim the council should be able to charge even less by making services more efficient.

Local government minister John Healey yesterday named Lancashire in the 10 local authorities that should offer residents the biggest cuts in bills, or better services without charging more.

Lancashire's final council tax figure will be voted on at a meeting of full council on February 14.

Final bills for taxpayers in Lancashire will also include amounts set by district councils, Lancashire Fire Authority and Lancashire Police Authority.

Coun Anne Brown, cabinet member for resources and performance, said: "This year we have been right to keep council tax as low as possible. We hope it will come in under three per cent."

Councillor David Whipp, who leads the Liberal Democrat opposition in the county council, welcomed the funding but slammed the decision not to review cuts to bus services announced before the extra funding was awarded.

He said: "I regret that despite that £22m you have not reversed policy on bus services and you are again taking them off the road."

In 2007, the county council's controlling Labour group approved a rise of 4.85 per cent.

  • Blackburn with Darwen council's ruling coalition has yet to propose next year's council tax figure, but bosses have vowed to keep it below inflation.