GRAVESHAM Council has vowed to protect its free public events ahead of the Government’s local authority grants announcement.

The council is assuring residents that free weekend car parking, the Big Day Out concert, firework and Christmas lights displays will remain, despite anticipated funding cuts.

The Department for Communities was due to announce the budget this week, but this has been delayed.

Council leader Councillor Mike Snelling said: “This council has planned its finances very carefully and has achieved efficiencies over the next four years to maintain a balanced budget – and we have done this while ring-fencing the key activities people enjoy and value the most.

“We expect to be able to announce a budget very soon after the government's grant settlement for the next four years is received and we will keep those things which help to lift spirits and create the family friendly Gravesham we are developing.

"It is, if you like, a pact with the people and businesses that we will continue to provide front line services which, as the Audit Commission recently confirmed, represent good value for money, alongside those community activities people want that only a council can provide.

“All these events have proved increasingly popular and it would be absolutely wrong to squander these achievements by the council which are so appreciated by the public."

A spokesman for the council said that unless the grants were significantly less than expected, the council would continue to protect all front line services.