Town hall boss bows to even more opposition demands

- 04 March 2010

COUNCIL leader Keith Prince has agreed to scrap more proposed budget cuts.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Hugh Cleaver urged the Tory chief to have a rethink on the loss of a planning officer position, as well as reducing the cleaning of road signs, painting road markings, and the closure of a public toilet in Ley Street.

He accepted the group's amendment and urged fellow councillors to all work together in the coming years to make sure any proposed cuts were "in the interest of the people of Redbridge."

Earlier tonight demands from the Labour party for a re-think on a number of service cuts have been agreed by the Tories.

Leader Cllr Elaine Norman urged the administration to delay proposed cuts including:

* community care - it was thought costs would go up for adult social care

* cleansing and direct services - a front line cleansing staff member and a Street scene enforcement officer were due to lose their jobs

* highways and engineering - the council was expected to stop paying for an expert highways officer to attend area committee meetings

* culture, sport and community learning - it was thought the cost to lease an allotment was going up from £17 to £35

Cllr Alan Weinberg and council leader Cllr Keith Prince agreed to a proposal that all cuts should be deferred for a rethink until April, 2011.

Earlier tonight the Tories agreed to save the library archives facility.

The Lib Dems were also due to save the same services.