£380,000 cuts voted through

The Liberal Democrat cabinet backed the moves to cover an urgent budget shortfall - despite some members urging for the issue to be put on hold.

The package of cuts also includes reducing beach cleaning, closing half the seafront toilets in winter, reducing the number of seafront inspectors, cutting playground improvements and spending less on library stock.

Councillors heard last night that the cuts, totalling £380,000, would go towards plugging a £630,000 overspend in the leisure and tourism budget. Cllr Andrew Garratt, cabinet member responsible for community relations, said: "To receive a report like this is always deeply difficult for any council, especially for an administration that took over just three months ago."

He blamed the Conservatives for setting an unrealistic budget before they lost power in May. He suggested spending two weeks looking at alternatives before holding a special cabinet meeting.

Cllr Rachel Palma said she was "horrified" at the cuts being suggested.

But Cllr Adrian Fudge, cabinet member for quality services and value for money, said: "The problem is we know this situation exists and if we don't take immediate action on this, the delay will mean you're going to have to take even harder decisions at a later date.

"The decision here is not something I particularly want or would enjoy taking but I think really we're pushed up into a corner."

The cabinet voted by four votes to three against deferring the issue. Its decision has to be endorsed by the whole council next week.

The Conservatives' former council leader, Cllr Bob Chapman, has rejected claims that his party set unrealistic budgets. He criticised the Liberal Democrats for delaying plans to privatise the pier and for spending money on the Winter Gardens.

"If budgets are so tight, why is £50,000 being accommodated for survey work on the Winter Gardens when all the information is readily available and has been compiled over the last four years?"