£7.6m cuts in city budget

Day centres will close and scores of jobs lost in cuts of £7.6 million announced today by Wolverhampton City Council.

The Visitor Information Centre in Queen Square will shut and cremation and burial fees will soar as Tory leaders attempt to balance the budget.

The cabinet, which wants a zero per cent council tax rise next year, today insisted its aim was "value for money".

Under the plans, meals on wheels charges will almost double, Merry Hill and Graiseley's Ekta day centres will close and opening hours at tips in Anchor Lane, Coseley, and Shaw Road, Bushbury, will be reduced.

The latest cuts, which have been published in a 119-page report, are part of the council's £40 million savings programme set to last until 2011.

Until now the authority has only revealed the details of £33 million cuts, including the closure of Underhill House care home in Fallings Park, reduced spending on Christmas lights and scrapping the free city centre bus.

The Visitor Information Centre, the last remaining dedicated tourist office in the Black Country, had a revamp in 2006.

The £7.6 million savings could also be followed by another £2 million of cuts next year, although they have yet to be identified.

The document is going to go out for three months of public consultation.

Councillor Neville Patten, leader of the authority, said: "We are being open and above board with this and want the public to be with us, and rest assured we will do everything we can to bring in the lowest possible council tax rates."

The amount of jobs to go is not yet known, but Labour leader Councillor Roger Lawrence said: "We think it could be around 200."