Walsall budget cuts are the biggest to date

Residents in Walsall face a raft of belt tightening measures after the biggest budget cuts in the borough council's history were approved.

Another £7.7 million has been cut from Walsall Council's budget this year - bringing the total reduction for 2010/11 to £22m.

There were no public protests and a just a handful of seats were taken in the public gallery at last night's full council meeting as the ruling Conservative group approved the proposals for the extra cost-cutting measures.

The cash-strapped council last month announced it had to shave an additional £7.7 m due to government cuts in funding.

Cost saving measures in the emergency budget include closing flagship attraction the New Art Gallery on Mondays, freezing recruitment at libraries, ditching road safety lessons for pupils, shelving road improvements, cutting 11 jobs and reducing hours.

The care packages for 4,800 elderly and disabled residents are also to be reviewed.

But Labour group leader Councillor Tim Oliver told the chamber although these were "tough times" the level of cuts were drastic at a local and national level and would affect frontline services including education, domestic violence and provision of public toilets.

Councillor Oliver said: "There is a massive polarisation to the way we see the world and the way you see it. We condemn the emergency announcement that you made on June 23.

"I am sure you will be doing the same thing in October when the spending review is completed. It is our view that this wave of cuts is wrong and should not be brought before us tonight."

Despite efforts of opposition groups the cutbacks were approved by 28 votes to 16. Councillor leader Mike Bird said: "It is not an easy time and whether we like it or not we have to put forward a legal budget."

The council has also withdrawn £500,000 a year funding from outdoor education centre Bryntysilio in Llangollen, Wales, and Willenhall Leisure Centre, Bath Street, is to close in September.