PLANS to cut £9m off Ceredigion council services have been put on hold.

Liberal Democrat opposition councillors led by Cllr Elizabeth Evans of Aberaeron have called in the Cabinet decision to approve a 40-point cash saving plan for next year's budget.

The cuts would affect a wide range of services and include closing Llandysul swimming pool, cutting back on facilities for the elderly and axing funding for CCTV.

Cllr Evans told the Tivy-Side:

"The Budget paper in my view lacked the detail and rationale behind each cut to allow councillors to take an informed decision. I have therefore called-in the Cabinet's Budget paper in its entirety with the support of Cllrs Rowland Rees-Evans and Rowland Jones .

Whilst I fully accept there are difficult decisions for the Cabinet to make, the public, now more than ever, deserve this level of scrutiny and it is incumbent on all Councillors to ensure we are not cutting in the wrong areas. It's about cause and effect, and I'm unclear as to whether the impact of some of the cuts has had any real analyses," she said.

And she added: "The Liberal Democrat opposition group in Ceredigion amounts to seven councillors. I therefore feel there is an even greater responsibility on our small group to hold the council leadership to account on behalf of the residents of Ceredigion against such a large ruling coalition."

Ceredigion - which had one of the worst financial settlements from the Welsh Assembly - is looking to save £20m over the next three years.

At last month's Cabinet meeting leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn warned that there were tough times ahead.

"All council services are under review because of the grave financial situation we are in. We have to make very difficult decisions," she said.