THE outgoing leader of Herefordshire Council says protestors against Herefordshire Council’s service cuts should instead “channel energy” into finding alternatives as to how threatened services can be delivered.

Councillor John Jarvis defended the deferral of today’s cabinet debate on the cuts saying any decision on the principle behind the programme was something all 58 councillors needed to express a view and a vote on – free of any cabinet recommendation.

That vote will now be taken at a special full council meeting set for next Friday afternoon at Hereford Shire hall with the council’s annual meeting held over the morning.

Coun Jarvis, due to stand down as leader at the annual meeting, said the savings programme had been mis-represented as cuts when it was about “new ways” of delivering services to meet decreasing budgets.

“This is not about closing libraries, it’s about finding ways we can meet a challenging 2013/14 budget and put ourselves into a good position for 2014/15.

Those protesting should channel their energies into finding alternatives to current service provision - if realistic alternatives are offered, we’ll help make them happen,” he said.