Cuts totalling £10 million are being planned for Birmingham's refuse collection and street cleaning services, it was claimed last night.
Labour said it had evidence that the city council's ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition intended to drive through a three-year savings programme that would see the local services and community safety budget trimmed by between ten and 15 per cent.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of the Labour opposition group, said the cut-backs threatened the future of devolution - which has seen power to run street services transferred from the Council House to 11 district committees.
Sir Albert said the council cabinet was proposing unilaterally to cut the districts budgets, even though legal service-level agreements exist safeguarding expenditure on refuse collection and street cleaning.
Jim Whorwood, cabinet member for local services and community safety, did not deny that savings were being considered but said it was too early to confirm Labour's figures.
Coun Whorwood (Lib Dem South Yardley) added: "There are lots of discussions going on at all sorts of level about next year's budget."
