Backing for Hartlepool Council £5.5m budget cut plan

Budget cuts totalling £5.5m have been backed by Hartlepool Council's cabinet.

The package includes reducing community and voluntary organisations' funding, and withdrawing the Dial-a-Ride door-to-door transport service.

It was also proposed that £46,000 for new chains for the deputy mayor will instead be spent on three community centres facing closure.

The plans need the approval of the full council at a meeting on Thursday before they can go ahead.

An original budget deficit of £12.9m had been reduced by a series of efficiency measures, including £1.5m savings on management and administrative costs.