West Somerset Council recommends £600,000 cuts

Councillors at West Somerset Council have voted to recommend budget cuts of £600,000 for the coming year.

Much of this will come from a staff pay freeze and cuts to areas like the Quantock wardens. Every public toilet could close over the next two years.

Plans to start charging at three car parks which are currently free have been postponed.

The Clowns charity, which helps mothers and toddlers, was facing a 75% cut in funding but has been given a reprieve.

West Somerset is the smallest district council in England and is run by a Conservative/Independent coalition with a Conservative leader.

It has previously said it may collapse if it faced any more government cuts.

The council's government grant has been reduced by £600,000 (17%), however when council tax is included this goes down to a 9% cut to their overall spending power.

All these decisions now have to go before a full council meeting later this month.