A HOST of controversial budget measures have been recommended for approval by Darlington Council’s cabinet.

Members met this evening (Wednesday, June 22) to discuss the proposed measures that will impact a vast swathe of services currently provided by the council.

This includes, among others, cuts to social care, street cleaning and the creation of a library in the Dolphin Centre with the historic Crown Street building sold off.

Speaking at the meeting, which saw a small band of protesters gather outside the town hall, Council Leader Bill Dixon said the budget was one he never wanted to make, but the cuts imposed by central government made the savings necessary.

Several members of the public were given the chance to speak and among them was Alan Docherty of Darlington Trades Union Council who called on the Labour-run council to fight harder against the Conservative government’s austerity measures.

He urged Darlington Council to join with other North-East Labour authorities and effectively ‘go on strike’ to force the government’s hand.

He said: “I appeal to you to make that stand because if you don’t make that stand we have really got to question why you took this job.

“It is something you should think, ‘why did I go into politics in the first place?’

“We need that fightback or the people of Darlington will suffer.”

Mr Docherty was accused of political naivety and Cllr Dixon said it was ‘inhuman’ to consider spending money on essential services such as care for the vulnerable only to leave them high and dry when the cash ran out.

There was lengthy discussion about the fate of Crown Street Library after the council’s head of services Luke Swinhoe confirmed that the existence of a protective covenant had not been established.

Paul Howell, of the Friends of Darlington Library, questioned the logic of spending £1.5m on creating a new library in the Dolphin Centre and said that cabinet members had not given enough consideration to a business plan submitted by Darlington for Culture.

John Elliston, another member of the public, was more concerned about cuts to services for vulnerable people.

He said: “Please set a budget that is focused on the long term future of people, not buildings.”

The measures will go before full council at a special meeting on Wednesday, June 29 where a vote will be taken.