THE Government's Comprehensive Spending Review announcement tomorrow could have massive implications for basic services in Sedgemoor.

At 12.30pm, Chancellor George Osborne will set out four-year spending plans for each Government department, and savage cuts have been widely predicted.

The Chancellor's announcement on funding for the Department for Communities and Local Government may give a huge clue as to how much Sedgemoor District Council will have its budget cut - with an announcement on local authority funding due in late November or early December.

Council leader Duncan McGinty said: “We are planning for a 25% reduction in funding over a four-year period.

“We have been pressing Sedgemoor's case for the last three years, because it has been consistently under funded for many years.

“Even the National Audit Office said we were getting in the region of £1million less from the Government than we ought to be.”

Cllr McGinty said if the cuts were at 25% - equivalent to £2.5million a year - his authority could make do and mend without taxpayers seeing “any noticeable difference to services”.

But there are real fears Sedgemoor's budget could be cut by as much as 40%.

Cllr McGinty said: “If the Government goes nearer 40% than there would be savage implications.”

He said the district would look to cut non-statutory services first, such as play areas, grass-cutting, and recycling, but frontline services, including planning and environmental health, would also be hit.

What should be cut and what should be spared? Have your say below.