A DRAFT budget which proposes a two per council tax rise has been approved by North Somerset Council's executive.

The budget will also ensure additional investment in services for the most vulnerable in the community.

The proposed council tax increase means the average Band D property precept would be £1,150.87 for council services in 2010/11.

Council leader Nigel Ashton said: "We are committed to keeping council tax as low as possible. Although North Somerset is one of the lowest funded councils in the country in terms of Government grant per head of population, we continue to be one of the lowest taxing areas in the South West.

"We have achieved this through a substantial programme of internal efficiencies which has enabled us to cut costs whilst protecting frontline services."

The proposed budget includes a six per cent increase in the Children and Young People's Services budget and a two per cent growth in Adult Social Services and Housing's budget.

Cllr Ashton said: "We are putting as much resource into these two areas as we can to help them cope with the increasing demand for their services. The additional investment will make sure that vulnerable children are properly cared for and are given the best possible chances in life; that young adults with severe learning disabilities will get the care they need; and that the increasing elderly population will be able to continue to live in their own homes."

The council hopes that the draft budget will result in the £19 million shortfall that the council faces over the next two years being cut to £4.4 million.

"Everyone at the council has been working to reduce budgets wherever possible while continuing to provide the best level of services possible to the residents of North Somerset," said Cllr Ashton. "We will continue to work on further savings.

"This budget is about being more efficient in the way we work as an organisation.

"That's why we are taking the opportunity to rationalise our office accommodation so that we can improve services to our residents across the whole district and at the same time reduce costs."

The budget will now go to full council at the end of February for final approval.