A COUNCIL U-turn means key services could be saved for another year.

Newcastle City Council’s cabinet is set to give unexpected short-term support to Kenton and Newburn leisure centres, the flagship City Library, the children’s social work service and Citizen’s Advice.

The extra money is available for next year due to some of this year’s budget having not been spent.

Council leader Nick Forbes said: “We have listened very carefully to the issues people have raised during our consultation and I’m pleased that because of our prudent financial stewardship during the current year we’ve been able to find some one-off funds to address a number of the biggest public concerns.

“This means we can provide support to a number of vitally important institutions in the city – giving them another 12 months to come to terms with future budget reductions. We will work closely with them through this time to help them adjust.”

The 2016-17 budget, which proposes a 3.9 per cent increase in council tax, will to go the cabinet on Monday, February 22 and full council on Wednesday, March 3.