RURAL councillors are calling for a rethink over plans to hold a vital budget meeting this afternoon as the wintry weather continues to wreak havoc on roads across the region.

Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are due to meet at 2pm to set the local authority’s spending plans for the coming financial year.

However, Independent Group Loftus councillor Wayne Davies is calling on the council to consider members’ safety: “I’m sure this council knows that the southern domains of this Borough are considerably more likely to have a worsened impact during snow and icy weather, which thus makes travelling to Redcar for a meeting, that much more dangerous.”

According to council rules, only a quarter of its sitting councillors need to attend full council to set the budget.

Cllr Mary Lanigan, who is also an Independent group member for Loftus, called for the meeting to be rescheduled. "This is a critical meeting seriously affecting the residents that we represent," she said. "I am asking if the snowfall is as predicted that the meeting is postponed.”

The Labour-led council is looking to impose an almost four per cent increase with a 1.99 per cent council tax and two per cent adult social care precept.

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland council said: "The intention is for the Borough Council meeting to proceed as planned."