The public do not want politicians to decide on spending cuts in their local areas, and would rather see hospital staff protected ahead of all other council services, a new poll has revealed. The Local Government Association (LGA) survey found that 65% want local councillors to make decisions about cuts in their area, and only 11% want MPs to make those decisions. Just 3% would prefer quangos to decide. Cllr Margaret Eaton, chair of the LGA, described the figures as a ‘vote of confidence in town halls'. Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff top the list of services that people want protected from cuts (33%), followed by the fire service and police (both 32%), care for the elderly (30%), and schools (26%). The top areas people want to see protected from cuts: l frontline hospital staff (33%) l fire service (32%) l police (32%) l care for the elderly by social services (30%) l schools (26%) The top areas people want to see cut to save public money: l overseas aid (62%) l NHS managers (47%) l benefit payments (32%) l defence (25%) l sports parks and libraries (16%)
