Meetings were being held at Gravesham council's offices today with staff over possible job cuts.

Council leader John Burden will spell out the extent of the budget crisis after it was revealed the authority has overspent £1million this year and will need to find another £3million of savings in future years.

Tory and Labour councillors taunted each other at a heated meeting last night over who was to blame for the mess. Labour, who control the council followng their election victory in May, say they inherited unrealistic spending plans while the opposition say the new administration should have acted quicker in rapidly worsened economic conditions.

Staff are meeting bosses and council leader John Burden (Lab) today to hear whether or not they will have a job at Christmas.

Members ignored a call from Cllr Bryan Sweetman (Con) at the emergency council meeting last night to take a 20 per cent cut in allowances for the next two years.

Among measures being considered are wage cuts, raising parking costs, Saturday parking charges reintroduced, axing grants and increasing costs to developers for planning advice.

The council unanimously voted to leave it to the Labour cabinet to redraw the budget when it meets in November.

See Thursday's Gravesend Messenger for a full report.