SOUTHEND Council has approved budget cuts worth £11.8million over the next financial year.
In a fraught, five-hour meeting last night, the authority's political factions clashed over plans to scrap 120 jobs and slash funding for day care patients and the meals-on-wheels service.
The budget was eventually passed, with the controlling Tory party's leader, Nigel Holdcroft, criticising his rivals for failing to come up with alternative solutions.
He said: "This is my fifth budget and the behaviour of some you is, frankly, getting a bit pathetic now.
"I look forward to the day when we can have a proper budget debate with some alternative ideas being put forward, but all we have at the moment is party political point-scoring."
For the full report, get your copy of Monday's Echo.
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