Protesters challenge latest cuts

Anti-cuts protesters and union members carried out an angry protest at Leicester Town Hall yesterday as councillors met to approve cuts of millions of pounds to its spending.

More than 50 campaigners gathered to voice their anger at the council's plans to cut £3 million from its budgets from April and a further £6 million the following year.

Before the meeting began a large changing crowd pushed past council staff to demonstrate loudly but peacefully in the town hall foyer.

A heavy police presence, more than a dozen officers, was in place to make sure no trouble started.

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Tony Church, of the Leicestershire Against The Cuts movement, said: "We want to let the mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, know how upset we are with the cuts they are making on behalf of this Tory government.

"Soulsby should be standing up to the Government and using his influence with other Labour councils to fight these cuts."

Meanwhile, county councillors approved about £48million worth of cuts over the next four years.

The county's budget was passed during a meeting at County Hall by 32 votes to 14.

The council says it needs to save £79 million in the next four years, and senior Tories admitted they needed to think more about where the remaining £30 million of savings would come from.

Some savings will come from cutting £3 million from management and administration costs and £2.5 million from the children and young people's department.

The Lib Dems proposed two amendments to the budget – neither of which were accepted. Councillor David Bill proposed £50,000 be set aside to explore the potential of installing solar panels on the roofs of council buildings to create power and generate income.

Councillor Bill Boulter suggested projected underspend from this year be used to put more than £1 millon into the highway maintenance budget for repairs.