A TELEPHONE survey is being carried out next month to discover the views of Hampshire residents before Hampshire County Council sets its budget in February.

The poll will be used to gauge reaction to budget priorities and different levels of budget and council tax increases, members of the policy committee were told.

The survey is in addition to normal consultations with business, residents' associations, voluntary organisations, user groups, head teachers, school governors and parents teachers' associations. Members heard there is likely to be a council tax increase of around six per cent. It means the owners of a band D property would pay £38 per year more than at present, giving a new total of £683 per year, representing an increase of less than 75p a week.

education and social services remain the authority's top priorities. Social services is in line to receive a higher than expected cash increase of 6.4 per cent which, after allowing for inflation and additional specific grants from government, leaves a real terms increase of about £6.5 million. However, it is likely much of this will be absorbed by existing and new pressures on the social services budget, so the overall effect is likely to be 'standstill.'

The projected education cash increase is 5.8 per cent, suggesting a growth of one per cent, rather than the 'standstill' previously forecast. In line with the Secretary of State's delegation target, 85 per cent will be passed directly to schools and, with schools also benefiting from an increase in direct revenue grants, grants from the government, their overall cash increase should be 8.1 per cent.