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Poole will retain its position of having the lowest Council spending per head in Dorset and amongst the lowest in the country.

Although in the settlement for Poole, education is again singled out by the Government for an increase in spending of 6.3%, many other services have faired less well.

Brian Clements, Leader of the Council, said: "The increase in funding for our schools is welcomed. However, many other services will be struggling to maintain standards under this settlement and our residents rightly demand improvements. The government appears to be doing little for the majority of our services. Based on earlier Government guidance we had hoped to deliver an increase in Council Tax in single figures. In light of this disappointing settlement Poole Councillors will need to balance the needs of every service against the cost to Council Taxpayers, who at this time I fear will be facing rises well into double figures. We have a great deal of difficult soul searching work to do in the next couple of months."

Councillor Jane James, Executive Spokesperson for Care, said: "The amounts identified in the settlement for some of the most vulnerable people in our community do not cover the additional costs we face in the current year let alone the pressures we face next year. We are supporting a South West lobby for more funding from Government which we desperately need. Without more money we are coming under severe strain on our ability to protect those at risk and safeguard services for children and the elderly."

The new financial settlement is open for consultation with the Government until January next year with the final figures due to be published in February. The Council will set the budget and Council Tax for 2002/2003 at this time.

The total Standard Spending Assessment for Poole is £107.590 million, which is an increase from last year of 5.3%.