FUNDING for the council's children and young people department could be reduced by £1.7million this year as part of widespread cuts, it has emerged.

The authority's cabinet will meet tomorrow night (Tuesday July 20) to discuss the proposals, which also include plans to slash the budget of adult services by nearly £200,000 and environment and regeneration by £335,000.

Paul James, the council's director of finance, has said savings of £7.2million must be made this year to achieve a balanced budget.

It comes after the Government announced a cut in funding to the borough of at least £2.6million this year.

However the council is also predicted to overspend on services by £5million this year, adding to the budget pressures.

If councillors approve the recommended cuts tomorrow, the proposals will then be put to the full council for a vote on Thursday (July 22) before the details are worked out.

Council leader Cllr Chris Robbins has been unavailable for comment.

But opposition leader, Conservative councillor Matt Davies, said he believed that any cuts in the children's department would not necessarily have a knock-on effect on young people.

He said: "We believe there is a real possibility of making the necessary savings without affecting services.

"We do have promises from [council leader] Cllr Robbins that no front line services needed by people would be affected, but it's impossible to be really sure about any of this until we see what the details are.

"Savings can be made from middle managements posts and policy posts which shouldn't mean residents see any difference, but the devil is in the detail."

The council has said it must also save a further £30million by 2012/13.