BOURNEMOUTH Council’s Tory leader says there is no “hidden agenda” of cuts to be sprung on the town.

Councillor Peter Charon claims residents do not need to fear the axe being wielded on frontline services and says the authority will protect children and vulnerable adults.

He spoke ahead of next week’s budget fixing meeting of the cabinet at which no increase in council tax for 2011/12 is likely to be recommended.

Cllr Charon told the Echo: “There is no secret list of massive cuts that will suddenly pop up the day after the local elections in May. That is not going to happen.”

Finance chiefs claim Bournemouth is in a better position than many other councils because it had been making major efficiency savings over the past three years – around £20m.

Deputy leader John Beesley added: “We saw this coming and we have been doing something about it since 2007 and that’s why we are confident that we can deliver.

“Saving money through efficiency is the only show in town. There’s nothing else.”

He said the controversial service contract with private company Mouchel which came into force in December was a key part of the efficiency plan.

Bournemouth suffered a 15 per cent cut in grants from the government, up from an anticipated 11 per cent. This included £4.2m or 44 per cent from the Supporting People Grant.

“We have been right in the government’s face about that,” said Cllr Charon. “We are not happy.”

At the weekend, communities secretary Eric Pickles, claimed in his blog that cutting frontline services was not inevitable and he criticised “slash and burn” councils.

He also hit out at local authorities for sitting on millions of pounds of reserves, turning town halls into “Fort Knox”, while cuts were being made.

Hampshire County Council, which is cutting 1,200 staff to cut costs, was named as one authority with more than £100m in reserve.