LANCASHIRE county council has given its clearest warning yet that service cuts are on the way as it looks to balance the books.

In an interview this week, leader Geoff Driver said he’d be a ‘fool’ to claim there would be no further frontline services cuts, but also pointed out that in many areas, Lancashire is the highest-spending council in the country.

It’s also one of the country’s largest, it should be noted.

Coun Driver also says he is urging government to look at different ways to fund councils.

“Councils have different needs... and once those needs have been assessed, they will have different abilities to meet [them] from [their] resources – and that’s where government should be stepping in.

“That’s what I grew up with, that’s what I still believe in and that’s the message we’ve given to the government – and I hope they take account of that.”

A think tank report published this week predicts the outcome of the current review – which the government has committed to implementing – could benefit counties like Lancashire.

But the overall budget from central government is not expected to increase.

“Personally, I believe it [should],” County Coun Driver said.

This indication that Lancashire is saying it needs more money should be welcomed – and our local MPs should join the choir as soon as they can.

A failure to get more money for the county council will result in fewer services, something I suspect none of us voted for.