MILLIONS are to be spent on improving Huddersfield's roads network.

The money has been earmarked by Conservative councillors, who have revealed their plans for Kirklees Council's budget.

The Tories, who control the council's Cabinet, have drawn plans for spending for the next three years.

And spending on schools and the elderly are two other priorities.

Clr Robert Light, leader of Kirklees Council, said they would be investing heavily in services but not implementing inflation-busting council tax rises.

Major investments in roads, schools and recycling were announced by Clr Light and his Cabinet members at Huddersfield Town Hall yesterday.

Clr Light said his party had looked at how the council could be more efficient. "Others may say you can't cut tax increases without cutting services. That is not the case. We have taken a look at how the council operates and driven a robust efficiency strategy."

The first Tory budget for over 20 years would see council tax rise by about 3% a year for the next three years.

The exact percentage rise will not be known until the fire and police authorities decide how much they will levy from the public as part of the council tax.

There will also be a council tax pegging scheme for the over-65s.

More than 15,000 pensioners have registered. Their bills would only rise if precepts charged by the fire and police authorities go up.

Councillors meet on February 28 to decide on the proposals.