Taxpayers shouldn’t worry that the council’s budget plans for next year are more than £14 million too high, senior councillors claim.

But some of the council’s priorities are to be re-examined as the tight spending controls imposed by the government threaten frontline services.

Deputy leader Cllr Alan Jarrett admitted this week that leisure facilities and cultural events could be targeted for potential savings.

The council was not legally obliged to provide many leisure services.

But even scrapping the entire leisure budget would save only £1.5 million, he said.

The Cabinet set about the task of reducing spending plans and keep any council tax increase below five per cent.

The final budget, to be debated in coming weeks, will be approved in February.

Backbenchers will be asked to suggest where the savings could be be made.

“It is probably to be expected at this time in a council like ours where we have spending plans of £550 million,” said Cllr Jarrett.

“Despite all we have been through in the past eight years we have not made any significant cuts.”

The draft spending is currently £2.4 million worse than the previous draft a year ago.

It was eventually brought down to half a billion pounds – by cutting £11.9 million from spending.