Wiltshire Council youth services cuts scaled back

Proposed cuts to youth services in Wiltshire have been scaled back.

The council had planned to take £500,000 from the budget as part of a £25m package of savings due to cuts in government funding

At a meeting of the Conservative-led authority it was agreed to reduce this figure to £250,000.

A petition of more than 1,100 names called on Wiltshire Council to protect its youth service and about 150 staff from cuts.

'Avoid the worst'

Opposition politicians said the £250,000 investment would "avoid the worst of the cuts".

Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor Jon Hubbard, said he was "delighted" the group had been able to convince the authority to support young people.

"There are many aspects of the administration's budget that I find challenging but I am delighted that we have been able to effect this change," Mr Hubbard added.

Twenty-four youth centres had been under threat from proposals to save £500,000 from the county's budget.

The council said only 8% of teenagers used the services and a consultation was under way on proposed changes.

The authority also froze council tax for the fourth year running at its budget meeting on Tuesday.