Cambridgeshire cuts: Council faces £149m reduction in funding

The Cromwell Museum in Huntingdon could close from 2018 as Cambridgeshire works to trim £149m from its budgets over five years, a council report says.

The county council is attempting to protect education, transport and care budgets for vulnerable residents.

The flagship museum receives 13,000 visitors a year but will close in 2018 unless another group takes over management and funding.

Council leader Martin Curtis said: ""This is a very tough time."

'Tough decisions'

The authority is looking to cut £32m in this financial year, about £37m in 2014/15 while working towards a total figure of £149m by 2018.

Future cuts would focus on corporate services, museums and libraries but Mr Curtis said the council could not rule out reductions in frontline activities.

An increase in council tax of 1.99% was being considered to help protect many essential services although this could go higher.

Mr Curtis said: "We are one of the hardest hit authorities in the country in terms of funding and yet we are trying to deliver the most growth.

"The scale of savings we now need to make means we have to make tough decisions and inevitably some regrettable cuts to frontline services.

"We need to protect the most vulnerable while supporting the local economy and jobs," he said.