Councillors support proposal to accept an extra �8.1 million from the Government.

Councillors have backed a tax freeze for Devon residents, but have warned the council to be careful about how it spends extra money from the Government,

Members of Devon County Council’s joint scrutiny committee met yesterday (Monday) as part of budget setting processes for 2012/13.

The committee supported the cabinet’s proposal to freeze council tax for a further year and accept the Government’s offer of an extra �8.1 million.

Committee chairman Councillor Brian Greenslade, said: “This is a one off, one-year agreement to freeze council tax.

“Every effort must be made by the county council to use the government’s extra funding wisely, to limit the impact of this one-off funding not being available in future years.”

These recommendations will be presented to the cabinet on Wednesday, February 8.