WARRINGTON Borough Council will receive a Government cash boost next year - but a council tax increase and spending reduction could still be on the cards.

Warrington remains one of the poorest-funded authorities in the country, despite the latest Government grant being more favourable than previously forecast.

The borough council will receive an 8.2 per cent increase on last year's funding, giving it an extra £10 million and a total of £130 million.

Clr Paul Kenny, the council's executive member for resources, said: "The Government grant allocation has been more favourable to Warrington than we thought a couple of months ago.

"However, its full implications are still being analysed.

"Any additional resources are welcomed, but unfortunately we still have underlying budget and council tax pressures across many of our services, which will require the council to make some hard choices.

"As a result we will have to look hard at our spending and council tax options over the next few weeks before our budget is set at the end of January."

He added that early indications suggest that, despite the additional resources from the Government, the council still had insufficient funds to meet additional spending pressures and demands for services.