THAT  (a)        the details of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement be noted.

(b)        the current budget strategy be maintained, thereby maximising the Council’s room for manoeuvre in the final consideration of the budget for 2005/06 and

(c)        it be noted that the Chairman of the Council has agreed that the Council meeting scheduled for 4 March 2005 be deferred to 11th March 2005.