SOUTH Cambridgeshire residents are facing a 4.9 per cent Council Tax rise. But the South Cambridgeshire District Council cabinet has pledged to invest almost half the money raised in initiatives designed to safeguard jobs for people in the district. The p

SOUTH Cambridgeshire residents are facing a 4.9 per cent Council Tax rise.

But the South Cambridgeshire District Council cabinet has pledged to invest almost half the money raised in initiatives designed to safeguard jobs for people in the district.

The proposed rise would see householders living in an average Band D house pay �2.58 per year extra.

Economic development portfolio holder at the district council, Cllr Nick Wright, said: "We want to help local firms and are allocating a sum of around �150,000, which is half of the revenue we will gain from the proposed district council tax increase, for practical measures to support businesses."

The district council's cabinet is also giving the green light to a number of measures offering immediate help to businesses across the district, including a commitment to process all invoices from council contractors and suppliers within 20 days.

Cllr Wright added: "The measures we're putting in place will help the South Cambridgeshire economy stay as robust as it can be in these challenging times."

Meanwhile the district council has continued to make "significant progress" according to the latest report from government watchdog the Audit Commission.

In 2006 the council received a highly critical report from the Audit Commission, which condemned "poor leadership" and a "negative culture" within the council.

Since then they have been taking steps to rectify this, and have now received two positive reports in a row.

Cllr Ray Manning, leader of the council, said: "They are satisfied that we're in good shape and recognise that councillors and staff have made enormous progress in making this council more responsive to the needs of residents.