Cardiff activists to rally against cuts

Trade unions threatened strike action just last week over the Labour-run council's "brutal" plans to make more than £22 million of cuts, which they believe puts 350 jobs at risk.

Meanwhile residents have held popular protests against plans to close or privatise facilities including a swimming pool, a horse riding centre and a community centre.

Cardiff trades council secretary Ramon Corria said: "The pressure of local activism is already forcing the council to change policy."

Mr Corria will tell those present at tonight's meeting that councillors should abandon plans to hire a "new tier of highly expensive managers," as well as ending a council tax freeze to plug the budget gap created by Con-Dem government cuts.

Since unveiling their plans at the beginning of this month, council leaders have promised to replace a swimming pool earmarked for closure and keep other facilities open until private investment is found.

Unison organiser Steve Belcher said that such developments were "encouraging" but remained concerned that councillors have not ruled out used using the disastrous private finance initiative to replace publicly funded services.

He added that the council's "short-sighted" job cuts will mean "there will be 350 more people claiming benefits, 350 people not paying income tax and 350 people not having money to spend in the local economy."

Tonight's meeting comes ahead of a major protest outside next Thursday's council meeting, where budget plans will be voted on.