South Gloucestershire Council will spend £221 million on services within the next year but have increased Council Tax by 2.99%.

The budget was agreed by councillors at a full council meeting on Wednesday, February 13.

The budget papers show that South Gloucestershire Council's finances are due to remain in balance for the coming years despite a fall in government grants and increased costs and demand for services.

The range of spending in the upcoming years budget papers include: £78 million investment in schools across four years. In the next year £17.8 million has been set aside for this year.

The other main area that the council is looking to fund is the roads and highways.

£35 million has been set aside to improve road conditions and Highway Maintenance schemes.

Social care across South Gloucestershire also received a boost as £3.2 million was set aside to provide extra support to deal with a spike in demand for adult social care.

£714,000 has been allocated to enhance the services to support vulnerable children and young people.

Investment in hearing aids for school children with hearing impairments to allow them to continue their learning at home.

A further £300,000 will also be used to enhance the council's foster care service.

Leader of South Gloucestershire Council Toby Savage said: "I am delighted we have put forward a Budget that demonstrates our commitment to all members of our communities through visible action and not through hollow words and proud to see it underpinned by sound financial management.

"It is a robust plan that offers sustainability to our residents through a remarkable key feature of being balanced over the next two years.”