HEREFORDSHIRE Council says the deferral of today’s cabinet budget debate came after “listening to feedback over the last few days from councillors and members of the public, and after reviewing public petitions”.

The position is outlined in a statement on the deferral just released by the council.

The statement reads: “The savings proposals which were due to be discussed at today’s cabinet meeting, have been deferred to an extraordinary council meeting to be held at 2:30pm on Friday 24 May 2013 at the Shirehall. 

" This concerns the reshaping of council services to ensure the necessary steps are taken to deliver a balanced budget in 2013/14.

“After listening to feedback over the last few days from councillors and members of the public, and after reviewing public petitions, the cabinet feels it is appropriate to defer the decision on savings proposals to full council. 

"This will allow all 58 councillors to engage in a full debate and have their say.”

Ahead of the statement, Coun John Jarvis defended the deferral in similar terms, telling the Hereford Times that protestors should “channel their energies” into finding alternatives by which threatened services could be delivered.