THE scale of the crisis facing cash-strapped Bury Council and the threat to jobs and services was underlined at a special budget consultation meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr Iain Gartside, Cabinet member for resource, told the 120-strong audience at the Elizabethan Suite: “This is going to be the toughest year since the inception of Bury Council in 1974.”

On the planned budget savings of more than £12 million, he said: “These are proposals which are extremely difficult to put forward.”

The potential cuts for 2011-12 could mean grey household waste bins being collected fortnightly, some youth centres closing, savings in home to school transport and the loss of 184 jobs.

Mike Owen, director of finance, told the meeting the council’s funding came from three main sources: Government grant, business rates and council tax, adding: “The vast majority of the money we get comes from outside our control.”

Bury faces a council tax freeze which will bring in a £1.888 million Government grant. Mr Owen said: “We have got to set a sustainable, balanced budget. We have to take account of the cuts in public spending for the coming four years, but we have not reached a balanced budget at this point in time.”

During a question and answer session, many members of the audience raised concerns about the proposed cuts.

Although no firm decisions had been made, one council employee said she was told last month she would lose her job in March.

Jean Swanson, who works for Bury Council’s outreach library service, said: “I was told I hadn’t to tell anyone because the public wouldn’t like it.”

She had not received any written notification or consultation. Mr Owen replied: “This certainly isn’t our policy.”

Other members of the public argued for a campaign be mounted to protect jobs and services.

Sue Arnall said: “Bury has a proud history of opposing cuts. We don’t have to put up with this.”

n A meeting to oppose the cuts will be held by the Bury Action Group at The Met, Studio 2, in Market Street, on Monday between 6pm and 8pm.