MASSIVE Worcestershire-wide budget cuts are being all but decided in a County Hall “bunker”, a leading councillor has claimed.

Worcestershire County Council unveiled plans to cut £45 million – 15 per cent of its annual budget for 2011 to 2014 – last week, saying jobs and service cuts were “inevitable.”

But the county council board looking at possible savings is made up of top council officers and just one elected member, said cabinet member for finance Adrian Hardman.

Now, Liberal Democrat group leader and councillor Liz Tucker accused the county council’s Conservative leadership of “going down into their bunker” and all but deciding the cuts behind closed doors.

Council leader George Lord said the county council was being “open” about plans for savings and had discussed them with opposition party leaders.

But Coun Tucker believes all elected members and the public should be allowed to guide decision-making. He said: “If you’re talking about plans to change and cut services, you might want to let the public in on that.

“The overview and scrutiny committee is only looking at decisions being recommended. The council board will have already chosen the map and marked the path to cuts.“ The recommendations of the board, which includes chief executive Trish Haines, will go before the overview and scrutiny committee at a later date.

However, the committee chairman Liberal Democrat councillor Tom Wells, has asked for a briefing on Wednesday, November 4.

Coun Tucker is arguing the public should be consulted on what services could be cut or scaled back.

She said: “Any self-respecting council would have started with a public discussion and involve working groups rather than take it upon themselves to direct where cuts should fall.”

Leaders of the county council, which looks after roads, schools and libraries and has 19,500 staff (7,000 excluding education), said cuts would happen when they announced a spending programme last week.

Only schools will escape – because they are funded by central government.

Mr Lord defended the “transparent” process. He said: “Coun Tucker was invited to a briefing with other group leaders but couldn't make it, so a private briefing was arranged with the chief executive, which has taken place.”

“The reason we have communicated this information now – 18 months before the budget changes come into effect – is to be as transparent and open as possible about this situation.”