KEY council services could face cuts if savings at a cash-strapped council are not delivered.

That warning was given by Wirral Council's finance director.

The council needs to make £32m of cuts in the next financial year.

Officers and local politicians alike believe the vast majority of this can be achieved through technical savings, therefore protecting frontline services.

Shaer Halewood, Wirral Council's finance director, said the cabinet does not want significant changes or cuts to services.

Ms Halewood confirmed that under current plans cuts to budgets like regeneration and community services will be avoided.

But if the expected savings from financial measures are not delivered, she said service cuts are the only way the council can make the sums add up.

Labour councillor Steve Foulkes welcomed the pledge that services will not be cut and congratulated officers for this.

But, opposition councillors were more sceptical.

Conservative councillor Tony Cox questioned the council's policy to save more than £2.5m next year from repaying its debts more slowly.

Wirral Council has historic debts which need to be repaid over the next 30 years.

Ms Halewood said money can be saved from paying less back over the first 10 years.

More money can then be paid in later years, at which time she hoped the council would be in a more stable position.

Cllr Cox asked how could the council "backload" its repayments without increasing the interest rates on them?

Ms Halewood said this was common practice around the country, but she would write to Cllr Cox to give him a full technical explanation.

In a light-hearted response, Cllr Cox wondered if he could get the same deal on his mortgage.

Cllr Jo Bird, the Labour member for Bromborough, said she had heard compulsory redundancies for a number of council staff mooted as a possible measure to achieve the cuts.

She wanted assurances that this would not happen. Ms Halewood said there are no plans for compulsory redundancies.

Wirral Council is currently consulting with residents on its budget plans.

Following this, the budget will be considered by the council’s cabinet at a meeting in Wallasey Town Hall on Monday, February 17.