COUNCIL chiefs have outlined changes for the 2009/10 budget.

Extra spending on care homes and £2.5 million of extra funds on the county's roads are among Monmouthshire County Council's top spending priorities for next year.

Cabinet members presented an update for councillors at a meeting last week. Among proposals are £2.5 million more spent on highways maintenance and an extra investment of £40,000 on fees for foster parents.

There will be £90,000 more for special educational needs and £40,000 extra on school meals.

Other recommendations made in the draft included a £150,000 increase in spending on raising standards at Key Stage Four.

The cabinet also talked about other plans which included a total of £712,000 spending on social services including £191,000 on residential and nursing care homes.

Cabinet said they were especially mindful of the pressures being faced by children's services and not only will they reinstate the £50,000 that was originally proposed as a cut but they will also supplement this with a further £74,000 of revenue spending.

Following consultation, MCC's cabinet have made several alterations to the budget.  The following proposals will no longer take place:

• Reduction in school meals expenditure - £56,000

• Increase in fees and class sizes in adult education - £10,000

• Reduced Leisure Centre equipment budget - £5,000

• Reduced SEN expenditure - £60,000

• Reduced expenditure on Children's Services - £50,000

• Reduced response based highways maintenance - £70,000

• Charging for green waste - £50,000

• Part Night Time Operation of Rural Street Lights - £50,000

• Reduction in the number of Select Committees - £14,000

• Communications Unit Savings - £30,000

• Car Park Charges increase - £150,000

Leader of MCC, councillor Peter Fox said, "With these new budget proposals, we have responded to the voices of the people in Monmouthshire." Councillor Phil Murphy, cabinet member for finance, said, "We've made amendments to our proposals after listening carefully to what residents and councillors have told us.  Our Welsh Assembly settlement has provided more funding than had been expected and we've had additional grants that have allowed us to go ahead with projects that we originally proposed that we might lose.

"We're really pleased that the consultation process gave us a clear indication about people's views on our proposals. A number of responses were made by residents after we publicised the proposals. Members made comments at a seminar and the proposals were also considered by three select committees and the schools budget forum.

"We hope that people see that we are listening to them - however, it's worth emphasising that these budget proposals are by no means set in stone".

"This year's budget has been another difficult one to set and, all of cabinet's proposals will have to be reviewed at some time in the future dependent upon the settlement from Welsh Assembly Government."

The changes, which would have saved the council £545,000, come after councillors and residents raised a number of concerns about the proposals for the 2009/10 budget announced in December.

MCC will get £147,000 in unexpected funding from the Welsh Assembly Government along with a £45,000 Schools Energy grant and a £147,000 Special Educational Needs grant. Some costs will be met from the council's reserves.

The draft will be put before a full council meeting for final approval in March.