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Meeting held on council cutbacks Protest over planned council cuts
(about 15 hours later)
A meeting over Aberdeen City Council cutbacks is being held on Good Friday. More than 300 people have turned out to an event in Aberdeen protesting against cuts to council services.
Labour representatives have already been accused of "political opportunism" after inviting rivals to the debate on a public holiday at the Arts Centre. Councillors from the ruling SNP/Lib Dem administration refused to attend the event, claiming it was a stunt organised by the Labour Party.
Council leader Kate Dean said she would not be attending. The council said it was instead holding face-to-face meetings with groups affected. Ice skaters, groups helping disabled people and campaigners trying to save Doonies children's farm were among those protesting.
There are plans to make cuts of £27m across council services.
The Lib Dem/SNP administration in Aberdeen said it would speak individually to groups affected by the cuts but the authority has given no indication that it would change its plans.
The event was chaired by Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran.
The campaigners now plan a march and rally in the city early next month.
Many of the cuts will already have been implemented by then.
The council's finances are to be investigated by the Accounts Commission, it was earlier revealed.The council's finances are to be investigated by the Accounts Commission, it was earlier revealed.
The controller of audit's report on best value and community planning at the council highlighted concerns.
'Difficult decisions'
The public hearing will take place in the Aberdeen area.
Labour MP Frank Doran argued the chance of Friday's meeting on budget cuts should be taken by all involved.
It comes amid fears budget cuts could lead to as many as 300 redundancies, a figure dismissed by the council.
The SNP and Lib Dems said a public holiday was not the best day to hold the debate as people may have other arrangements.
Schools, care services and leisure facilities are all earmarked for cutbacks or closure to save £27m.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: "We fully understand that people are being affected by many of the extremely difficult decisions that were taken at the budget meeting in February and that people need explanations of why they had to be taken."