CAMPAIGNERS and trade union officials have demanded a public meeting with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to question how severe Government-imposed cuts will be.

They also asked senior members of Darlington Borough Council to defend the town against the level of council cuts.

Cabinet members backed their calls for a meeting with Mr Pickles and justified their stance and records against the cuts.

Opposition politicians also accused the ruling Labour group of playing politics during a cabinet meeting last night.

The meeting was held as the next stage of agreeing budgets for the next four years.

Shirley Winter, a member of the public who has led a number of campaigns to protect public services, and three Unison representatives addressed the cabinet.

They each queried why Government figures did not match those supplied by Darlington Borough Council.

Mr Pickles said Darlington would see a cut of 3.5 per cent, but council figures show a reduction of 12.1 per cent.

Mrs Winter said: “We cannot change the rest of the country and the world, but we can stop things happening in Darlington.

What are you doing about it?”

Unison branch secretary Phillippa Scrafton said: “There is genuine frustration, anger and fear at job losses.

“The council is doing the Coalition’s dirty work. Our members ask us where is the challenge or to get Eric Pickles up to show the challenge.”

Councillor Chris McEwan, portfolio holder for resources and efficiency, said: “To a certain extent, we are doing the dirty work, but we are being forced into it.

“We have a duty to maintain services and balance the books and we cannot set an illegal budget.”

He said the council had passed a motion last month to write to the Government to express their dismay about the scale and speed of public spending cuts.

Members from all parties said they would welcome a debate with Mr Pickles.

Tory leader Coun Heather Scott said: “We have asked for clarification on the difference and it needs clarifying. We would be happy for Eric Pickles to come here.”

The council said the next round of cuts would amount to £13m and estimated they would reach £19.8m, and initially include 360 redundancies. Council tax will be frozen next year.

The Civic Theatre and Arts Centre are among some services that have been given a stay of execution partly because of contractual obligations.