Somerset County Council to lobby for more cash

A cross-party alliance of county councillors in Somerset is set to lobby the government for more cash.

It is because the government's Spending Review will result in cuts of more than 25% to the county council's budget.

Labour councillor Andrew Govier said: "The level of cuts we are expected to take is unmanageable."

Somerset County Council said it needed to make savings of £75m by cutting down on road maintenance, youth services, recycling and bus subsidies.

It has also planned to make 1,500 job cuts to achieve this figure.

Mr Govier, the chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, said the council would now lobby Somerset MPs and government ministers.

"The settlement being suggested for Somerset from the government is totally inadequate."

The move has been supported by the leader of the Conservative-controlled council, Ken Maddock, and Jill Shortland, the leader of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall.

A meeting is set to take place on 10 November where the final decisions will be made over cuts to council-run services.