Further £160m in cuts planned for council

Lancashire taxpayers will learn in November the sort of areas likely to be hit when the authority outlines its plans in a consultation document covering the next three years.

Three months later, at February’s Full Council meeting, members will vote on the new budget which will take the authority through to April 2018.

The council’s ruling Labour group insists that, despite cutbacks totalling £300m - £140m of which have already been identified - protecting the neediest in the county will be the top priority.

Deputy leader David Borrow, explained: “We are trying to look at things with a view to shaping what will in many ways be a new and very different county council that is set up to deliver those priorities.

“One thing that won’t change is that we will do everything we can to protect those services that look after the most vulnerable members of society.”