MORE than £310 million of spending, £57million of capital investment and a council tax freeze for a sixth straight year have been approved by Somerset County Council.

But £16million of jobs and funding cuts to multiple areas including children’s services are also announced. Last Wednesday’s full council meeting saw members vote on the 2015/16 Medium Term Financial Plan.

The revenue budget, which sets out £16million of savings, also includes spending of £86million on frontline services for adults and £40million for children, while the capital investment programme outlines £57million to improve schools, roads and other infrastructure.

Councillors voted 31-17 in support of the proposals and also unanimously backed plans to pursue a campaign for Fairer Funding For Somerset.

Leader of the council Cllr John Osman said: “I’m pleased we have still been able to freeze council tax and spend millions on key areas such as looking after vulnerable adults and children, and investing in our highways and schools.

“But we have also had to make some very difficult decisions to reflect the fall in Government funding.

“There is no doubt we would rather not be making some of these savings and if the Government hadn’t reduced our funding by so much then we wouldn’t have to.”