FOR the moment, proposals to cut key services for children and elderly people in Swindon have been rejected.

Last night, the council's cabinet accepted that Swindon's social services department will go £800,000 over budget in order to preserve services such as nursing care and fostering.

The objective councillors set themselves is now to try and save money on future budgets.

But is cost cutting in these vital areas ever going to be an option? Who is going to suffer if councillors decide to go ahead with cuts next time?

However much you juggle your finances, there is a minimum you need to survive. If the council hasn't got enough it should make a forceful case to the Government for more money.