Libraries saved but children's centres closed and council tax to rise in Walsall Council £29m budget cuts

Free garden waste collections will continue for eight months a year after the ruling Labour group agreed to amend its budget following talks with the Tories.

Five libraries, including Streetly and Pheasey, will now remain open for another year.

But council tax will rise by 1.99 per cent, with council tax support for 20,000 of the borough's most needy residents reduced by 25 per cent.

Children's centres will also close as £4.4 million is wiped from the children's services budget.

Up to 200 council jobs will go, as well as an unspecified number of senior managerial positions.

During the four hour meeting alternative budgets were proposed by UKIP, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

After announcing his party's proposals, Tory Councillor Mike Bird said there was 'common ground' between the Conservatives and the Labour group.

He requested an adjournment in a bid to thrash out a revised budget, and after a 75 minute recess Councillor Sean Coughlan returned to announce the ruling party had amended its budget.

Under the revisions Tory proposals to remove library savings of £288,819, garden waste collection savings of £140,000 and street cleaning savings of £226,747 were agreed.

The shortfall will be funded out of general reserves.

Cllr Mohammed Nazir said: "In working with the Conservative group we are acting in the best interests of the people we represent."

But Lib Dems leader Cllr Ian Shires said the revised budget was a 'short term fix that would only serve to put greater pressure on the next administration.

He said: "We have gone from a four year budget to a two year budget and now down to a one year budget. Talk about a turnaround. We are reducing resources even further.

"All this is a load of smoke and mirrors. It's a short term fix for one year."

And the Mayor of Walsall, Cllr Pete Smith, who voted against the budget, accused councillors of being too willing to accept cuts.

"I just wish we could see a lot more fight in some of the councillors," he said. "If we carry on along this route there will be nothing left of local government.

"There is an acceptance of these cuts. We have not been elected to destroy local jobs and communities."

After more than four hours the budget was eventually passed by 51 to seven, with two abstentions.

Prior to the meeting the Labour group had already made changes to its proposed budget following the biggest ever public consultation over a budget in Walsall's history.

Plans to cut funding for community associations were thrown out as were cuts to park maintenance. Fallings Heath Resource Centre in Darlaston was also saved.

Also at the meeting, the council decided not to cut as much money from the street cleansing service in 2015/16.

Fallings Heath Respite Centre in Darlaston was given a reprieve.

The council needs to save around £85m over the next four years, including £29m next year. A shortfall of £655,566 will be taken from general reserves.

Council leader Cllr Sean Coughlan said the authority had done everything possible to preserve front line services in the face of large cuts to its central Government grant.

"This is a difficult time to set any budget based on what we have," he said.

Prior to the meeting group of around 30 protesters armed with placards, including members of the Green Party, gathered outside the Civic Centre.