Cornish leisure services 'to suffer cuts'

Alec Robertson said subsidies for leisure services would have to be reduced

Leisure services and subsidised transport are to suffer cuts as part of Cornwall Council's bid to save money, the council's leader has confirmed.

Alec Robertson said consultation with the public showed cuts to leisure were considered the most acceptable.

Spending on Adult Social Care is also to be frozen for 12 months, he said.

The Conservative-Independent-run authority plans to save £110m over four years. Planned cuts are to be discussed by the council's cabinet on 27 October.

Mr Robertson said: "We can't be expected to supply the sort of subsidies that have been provided in the past. It's unrealistic to think that we can carry on business as usual when you've had £110m taken out of your budget.

"Cornwall has told us that we must prioritise vulnerable people and children, and that leisure services where there are subsidies will have to be reduced.

"It's up to local communities and others to retain those services and find ways of doing that if that is their priority."

The council has already announced about 2,000 jobs will go as a result of spending cuts.

Although the council's cabinet is discussing recommendations for cuts on 27 October, the unitary authority said the final decisions would be made in November.