Former leader angry at £20m cuts

Care homes face losing 130 workers under the plans

A row has erupted over £20m of spending cuts by Devon County Council.

Former council leader, Brian Greenslade, called the cost-cutting by the ruling Conservative group a "knee-jerk reaction".

The proposals include axing 130 care home jobs and reducing the council's overall workforce by a further 500 staff over the next two years.

Council leader John Hart said it was a "sensible business proposition" for the whole of the South West.

Cabinet members also confirmed a decision not to spend £3m buying Rolle College in Exmouth for post-16 education.

'Worrying times'

But they also agreed to invest £50,000 in Plymouth Argyle's bid to be a football World Cup host city in 2018.

Mr Greenslade, who leads the Liberal Democrat group, said: "It's very worrying times for our staff, but also very worrying for people who receive vital services from Devon County Council.

"We all understand that the economy of the country is in a very difficult state and there will not be so much money for public services.

"But I feel that the county council under the Conservative administration are taking a bit of a knee-jerk reaction.

"We ought to make sure where we do lose jobs in vital services like care homes, that we are sure we can sustain the services people need."

Unison branch secretary Roger Spackman said: "Frontline services must be protected.

"People's jobs and services must come first and it would be inappropriate to do a cut and slash."

Council leader Mr Hart said that spending must be kept under tight control in "difficult financial times".

He added that the "comparatively modest" spending of £50,000 on the World Cup bid could produce "tremendous dividends".