REDUCING services in the face of public service cuts is not on the table for Cheshire West and Chester Council chiefs, according to their annual report.

Council leader Cllr Mike Jones (Con, Broxton) and chief executive Steve Robinson said 2009-10 was “an exciting and eventful first year” for the council.

The council said: “In our first year, we have delivered £43m savings which enabled £7m reinvestment in services such as safeguarding for children and adult social care and a £36.2m reduction in the financial burden facing taxpayers.

“This has been done against the background of a challenging economic environment.

“By facing this situation decisively and pre-empting financial pressures, we are now in a strong position to move forward as an organisation.

“Rather than shrinking our services in the face of public sector cuts, we are now looking at ways of further improving our services, reshaping them so that they are built around the needs of our customers and communities.”

The council believes it has established itself as “an ambitious, innovative, bold unitary authority that aims to lead the way, not follow the pack.”

Priority was given to improving services inherited from the previous councils.