MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council has made £214,000 worth of savings - despite operating in challenging times.

At last week's cabinet meeting, the leader of the council, Councillor Peter Fox, said, "The reality is that we couldn't have predicted these savings, but I am glad in the end that we were able to make them. We face some very difficult times ahead.

"Monmouthshire is a well performing authority, but despite being in these challenging times, we are bucking the trend of many authorities by doing things differently."

Councillor Bob Greenland added, "This is a one-off occasion where we find we have made savings of £214,000 – this is unlikely to ever happen again.

"It is sensible therefore to put this money aside for use in the future."

Councillor Phil Murphy reminded members that this amount of savings was a remarkable achievement

"We are the least funded per capita in Wales. We are facing a tougher future over the next few years as the amount the authority gets per head of population looks set to fall even further.

"These savings have been made by restructuring and preparing for the hard times ahead," he said.

Councillor Giles Howard said that placing these savings into the council's reserves was the right and proper place thing to do.

"We will find it harder in years to come to run this council," he said.

Councillor Simon Howarth asked, "How many authorities have made this percentage of savings?".

The £214,000 savings will be added to £4million being transferred into the council's reserves.

The budget revenue outturn for 2011-12 report stated that more than £1 million was being set aside for improving literacy and numeracy in schools and for social services.

Improved recovery of council tax amounted to an increase of £700,000.

And by approving the report councillors agreed to set aside £70,000 to fund two IT technicians for the county's schools.