Vulnerable in Gateshead 'should not face cuts'

Gateshead Council employs about 9,000 staff

Residents in Gateshead have identified care for the vulnerable, schools and road gritting as services which should be protected from spending cuts.

More than 1,200 residents took part in a consultation exercise to pinpoint areas which should face the brunt of an expected £60m reduction in spending.

Labour-controlled Gateshead Council said residents favoured fewer street lights, gardens and refuse collections.

The authority is due to finalise its four-year spending plan in March.

At least 600 council posts out of the council's staff of 9,000 are expected to be lost as a result of the spending cuts.

Council leader Mick Henry said: "The cuts in government funding we are facing are unprecedented.

"The information that residents and community groups have provided is invaluable to us in helping us to make the unavoidable changes necessary to save such a large amount of money.

"We'll be considering all the information we've received carefully before making final budget decisions in March."