Liverpool political parties to discuss cuts strategy

Three of Liverpool's political parties are meeting to discuss how to deal with some of the biggest cuts the city has faced since World War II.

The ruling Labour group is meeting the Liberal Democrats and Green Party to see where £141m of savings can be made by 2013.

The city council needs to find £91m of savings over the next year alone.

A cross-party delegation will discuss the cuts' severity with Communities Minister Andrew Stunnell on Thursday.

Council leader Joe Anderson said: "These are extremely challenging times and we are facing a reduction in funding the likes of which has not been seen since the Second World War."

The opposition leader, Liberal Democrat Councillor Warren Bradley, said: "We need to have a mature discussion about the issues that we face and how we can make sure that we minimise the impact on the elderly and the young who receive services."

Two thousand staff members are thought to have attended two sessions at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Tuesday where Mr Anderson set out how they hope to deal with the cuts, while protecting frontline services.

Staff were given the broader picture rather than specific details of where the cuts will take place.