RESIDENTS have another two weeks to have their say on the council's latest budget plans.

Proposals for the latest revision to Darlington Borough Council's Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), which covers the four-year period from 2018/2019 - 2012/2022, were outlined last month.

The deadline for residents to give their views has now been extended to February 2.

Due to careful financial planning and cost savings the council has been able to save about £4.4m to add into a 'futures fund' which will support some of the services with the greatest impact on residents' lives.

Street cleaning and grass cutting may be increased, and anti-social behaviour tackled, through the extra funds.

The council also wants to support rail heritage and culture to attract more visitors, and help keep the town centre successful in the face of internet shopping and out of town retail parks.

The Council wants to hear residents’ views about how this money can be spent over the next four years.

There are plans to increase council tax by 2.99 per cent to keep key services which could be lost as the Government grant to local authorities falls.

Councillor Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “Due to innovative work by our staff we have a small pot of additional funding that we can use to strengthen some of our service areas above what we currently provide.

The full budget proposals are available at www.darlington.gov.uk/budget and residents now have until February 2 to give their views. The final decision will be made at the end of February.