THE scale of the protests against the cost cutting proposals has stunned council chiefs who claim the report was merely a consultation document.

Leader of the largest group on the council, Cllr Tricia Heath, said the review was in line with Government guidelines to undertake an asset management plan and look at best value.

In a letter to MP Hilton Dawson, who has led the protests, Cllr Heath said: "Misrepresentation of the facts and scaremongering might in your view be a good election platform but it does a great deal of harm to the district as a whole. The truth is that officers have produced a document for consultation with regard to the decision of council to restructure the departments of tourism, arts and events, museums and leisure into one cultural services department.

"This is in line with your Government's thinking on cultural services."

The report's author, John Donnellon, has also felt the need to make a public statement to reassure the public.

He said: "Nothing at all has been decided yet. It is vital that any decisions affecting the future of the four services are only made once full and proper consultation with staff and consideration by council members has taken place."

He also pointed out that the city council operates a no compulsory redundancy policy.