Cyngor Gwynedd says it's avoided making cuts to frontline services, despite agreeing a 5.17% increase in council tax bills.

Councillors voted on Thursday to approve the local authority's £380m budget for the next financial year, along with a £40m investment programme.

The council says it will more children with additional learning needs (ALN) can be offered support and special schools in the county will get extra funding.

But despite receiving more money than expected from the Welsh Government, the council's leader warned one settlement "cannot make up for years of austerity and cuts to local government budgets". 

Cllr Nia Jeffreys said: "Although we have made every effort to keep council tax as low as possible, I am well aware that any increase adds to the financial burden on the people of Gwynedd, especially people who are already struggling."

Cyngor Gwynedd says its facing additional costs of more than £2 million in providing support to adults with learning disabilities in order to live indpendently, along with growing demand in residential care for people with profound mental health disorders.

Another £2 million is needed to carry out essential maintenance on buildings such as schools, older people's homes, libraries and leisure centres.

The council says avoiding the need to cut essential services and keep any tax hike "as small as possible" is a priority.

The 5.17% hike means the average Band D household in Gwynedd will have to pay another £98.62 a year - or £1.90 a week - increasing their annual bill to £2,006.11.

Cllr Huw Wyn Jones, cabinet member for finance, said: "The council's budget affects all of us."

"We must have money to pay for the services and resources that everyone uses – such as care homes, waste collections and our children's education. We receive grants from the Welsh Government and charge council tax for this."

"This year, more money has come from the (Welsh) Government in Cardiff which means we won't have to cut vital frontline services, which will be a relief to the people of Gwynedd, I'm sure."

"Having said that, the costs of things like electricity, diesel, food and building materials continue to rise and there is more demand than ever for our services. As local residents and businesses in the county, we must continue to plan carefully and look after every penny."

"Although we here in Gwynedd have received more than expected from the Government, the increase in the money coming in is still not enough to pay for the increase in costs."

He added: "None of us wants to have to increase council tax at all of course, and we have done everything we can to keep this increase as small as possible without punishing people who depend on council services."

A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson added that the council had cut its budget by £47m "due to shrinking budgets and an increased demand for services".