The administration of Aberdeenshire has given itself 100 days to boost development.

Councillors hope investment in towns and villages, assistance to small and medium sized business and an acceleration of plans for road improvements and affordable housing will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy by the end of September.

The announcement came as the Aberdeenshire Alliance launches its vision for the next five years, with cash injections from one-off savings that the council has generated over the last 12 months.

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Savings of £11million were announced by the council in April, and as the end of year accounts are being finalised, the savings are larger than were forecast in April – with possibly as much as £20 million of savings being made by the council through on-going efficiency projects.

In May, the Aberdeenshire Alliance - made up of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents - took on the administration of Aberdeenshire Council.

This pledge is one of the Alliance's first moves together.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Jim Gifford said: "The 100 day pledge demonstrates that we mean business. The projects we've chosen will make an important contribution to kick-start the economy, and respond to issues that we know are important to local people."

Council staff will draw up proposals for each of the development areas and these will be presented at the next meeting of full council on June 28.

(NE)