Hartlepool Council budget cut views sought

Hartlepool residents have been urged to have their say on where council spending cuts could fall.

Hartlepool Council said that, along with other authorities, it faced stark choices over which services it funded.

A council spokesperson said that before the change of government savings of £12m were needed over the next three years, but that figure was now higher.

The council has received 400 responses since the consultation period opened in July. It will close on 3 September.

Councillor Robbie Payne, cabinet member for finance and procurement, said: "Once we have all of the responses from the consultation exercise, and the full financial picture, councillors will be in a position to make these very difficult decisions."