Colchester Council warned it faces more difficult money-saving decisions as it tries to make up for a £1.1million budget shortfall.

Paul Smith, councillor for business, ruled out dipping into the council’s £7.2million reserves.

He also revealed it was not planning a council tax increase for 2015/16.

He said: “The £1.1million made up by cuts in Government grants. We have lived with it for four years, but we have been able to plan ahead and are confident we can do so going forward, protecting frontline services while looking for efficiencies and savings.

“That is not to say there won’t be cuts because unfortunate decisions will have to be made.”

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