Castle Point Council has received the lowest percentage increase in Government spending in Essex.

The council is analysing the new Standard Spending Assessment figures - and the early indications show Castle Point has received the smallest percentage increase in the county.

The provisional SSA figures detail the amount of cash the Government thinks each authority should spend to maintain services.

Last year's SSA figures for the council were £6.7 million. This year the Government has indicated Castle Point should spend £7.1 million, an increase of just over £300,000 or 4.7 per cent.

The figures are used to calculate the level of Government grants to local authorities across the county.

Last year Castle Point Council was awarded £4 million. This year it is set to get £4.2million.

Leader of the council Dave Wells (Lab, St George's) welcomed the increased Government grant. He said: "This is all very favourable. The figures are a lot better than what we thought we would get." "We are looking to improve our local services, we want to improve our recycling and our public health. We have a whole shopping list of things we want to do and this money will help us improve our local services.

"The question of council tax will be discussed over the next few months, bearing in mind our policy to balance our budget and prioritise our spending."

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