Monmouthshire’s Cabinet will be receiving feedback this week on its 2016/17 budget proposals following an extensive period of engagement and consultation.

Council Leader Peter Fox said: "I wish to thank all those throughout the county who took part in our budget consultation which included public meetings, town centre engagement events, live Twitter and Facebook Q&A sessions, YouTube broadcasts and scrutiny from interest groups and forums. Cabinet has now been able to consider the responses along with the results of the work that has been done by officers on the budget proposals. Careful consideration has also been given to the views of councillors given at their seminars and scrutiny committee meetings. As a result of this process many of the original projections have changed and will be put forward to a full county council meeting in the near future."

Councillor Phil Murphy, Cabinet Member for Resources added: "The settlement from Welsh Government has not been as bad as expected because of the improved settlement Wales Government received from Westminster. It is disappointing though that rural counties including Monmouthshire have once again borne more pain than urban councils. Officers and cabinet members will continue to work to limit the increase in council tax, though at this stage it is not possible to be specific."