Education is budget winner

Dumfries and Galloway councillors met yesterday to look at proposals from the four groups — Labour/SNP, Conservative, Independent and Socialist. And they agreed to adopt the indicative budget put forward by the Labour/SNP administration. Their plans pledge no cuts to education, but instead will see an increase in fees for services and charges in a bid to generate cash. A Council Tax rise of 4.84 per cent — an average of £1.09 per week, per household - was also agreed. Leader Elaine Murray said: “This administration budget proposal will ensure that we protect our schools from further cuts which will be welcomed by pupils, parents and teachers across Dumfries and Galloway.”