CITY leaders preparing multi-million pound budget cuts have earmarked the services they want to safeguard.

Newcastle Council is to set out where the axe will fall as cabinet members put together next year’s budget. The spending process comes as the council prepares for the latest in a series of annual Government grant reductions which have already seen hundreds of jobs go.

Government cuts added to rising costs mean the council needs to save £30m next year, and officials admit the easiest and less controversial savings have already been made.

As councillors look to introduce the more difficult changes they have revealed the areas they are prepared to save, after a city-wide consultation.

The protected areas include a promise to keep weekly bin collections and maintain high levels of child protection.

Also avoiding the larger cuts will be social care for vulnerable adults with substantial as well as critical needs preserved. And there is a promise that services such as libraries, leisure centres and children’s centres will also be saved.

Labour council leader Nick Forbes said the budget process had been guided by the Let’s Talk consultation.

He added: “Like many others, the council is in a very difficult financial position this time round and families across the city are already in hardship.

“Knowing that we have to take some tough decisions we decided to consult residents and businesses three months earlier to ensure we get more of their views and priorities before decisions are finalised. It is clear from our engagement programme, Let’s talk Newcastle, that there are some services the public want protected.”

Earlier this year Newcastle Council agreed the current round of cuts – £44m worth – behind a police guard after protesters tried to storm the civic centre.

Under the then Liberal Democrat controlled council more than 600 job losses were announced, a figure which it is thought could rise by more than 1,000 once the full four-year £100m cuts are carried out. Newcastle Council’s cabinet will consider the final budget consultation on February 22 before the budget goes to full council for approval on March 7.