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10 February 2011
Last updated at 00:10 ET
More than 80 prominent Liberal Democrat councillors, including the leaders of 17 local authorities, have criticised the scale and pace of government cuts.
In a letter to the Times, they say cuts will have "an undoubted impact on all frontline council services, including care services to the vulnerable".
They also accuse ministers of "denigrating" councils in the media.
Lib Dem Communities Minister Andrew Stunell urged his party members not to "fall out" over "pointless debate".
The signatories, who include the leaders of Newcastle, Milton Keynes and Hull city councils, say they are facing the bulk of the cuts to their budgets in the coming financial year - giving them little time "to spread the cost of reorganisation and downsizing".
"Rather than assist the country's recovery by making savings to the public in a way that can protect local economies and the front line, the cuts are structured in such a way that they will do the opposite," they write.
The councillors also say they are being "let down" by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and accuse the government of engaging in "gunboat diplomacy".
"The secretary of state's role should be to facilitate necessary savings while promoting the advance of localism and the Big Society. Unfortunately, Eric Pickles has felt it better to shake a stick at councillors than work with us.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
"Instead of chastising and denigrating local authorities through the media, the government should deploy all its effort to help councils minimise the impact on vulnerable communities and frontline services."
Mr Pickles has praised what he calls "can do councils" who he says are "showing it's possible to do more for less and protect frontline services in the process".
David Cameron has also accused some Labour-run councils of making "politically motivated" cuts to key services like libraries and youth centres when they could make less damaging savings elsewhere.
'Real challenges' Mr Stunell said the "woeful" deficit inherited from Labour meant "very tough times" for all public services.
"Whilst I fully understand the real challenges councils face I think it will be much better to direct all our energy to solving these problems rather than falling out between ourselves," he said.
"I know just how keen every one of my DCLG [Department of Communities and Local Government] ministerial colleagues is to end Whitehall domination of local government and we are strongly committed to delivering that quickly.
"It would be a real lost opportunity if we let that slip while we engage in pointless debate. Let's get round the table and just sort this out."
The letter was published a day after Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott quit his post after criticising the government's deal on bank lending and bonuses.
Under Project Merlin, banks will lend about £190bn to businesses this year - including £76bn to small firms - curb bonuses and reveal some salary details of their top earners.
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In a letter to the Times, they say cuts will have "an undoubted impact on all frontline council services, including care services to the vulnerable".
They also accuse ministers of "denigrating" councils in the media.
Lib Dem Communities Minister Andrew Stunell urged his party members not to "fall out" over "pointless debate".
The signatories, who include the leaders of Newcastle, Milton Keynes and Hull city councils, say they are facing the bulk of the cuts to their budgets in the coming financial year - giving them little time "to spread the cost of reorganisation and downsizing".
"Rather than assist the country's recovery by making savings to the public in a way that can protect local economies and the front line, the cuts are structured in such a way that they will do the opposite," they write.
The councillors also say they are being "let down" by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and accuse the government of engaging in "gunboat diplomacy".
"The secretary of state's role should be to facilitate necessary savings while promoting the advance of localism and the Big Society. Unfortunately, Eric Pickles has felt it better to shake a stick at councillors than work with us.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
I think it will be much better to direct all our energy to solving these problems rather than falling out between ourselves”
End Quote
Andrew Stunell
Lib Dem Communities Minister
"Instead of chastising and denigrating local authorities through the media, the government should deploy all its effort to help councils minimise the impact on vulnerable communities and frontline services."
Mr Pickles has praised what he calls "can do councils" who he says are "showing it's possible to do more for less and protect frontline services in the process".
David Cameron has also accused some Labour-run councils of making "politically motivated" cuts to key services like libraries and youth centres when they could make less damaging savings elsewhere.
'Real challenges' Mr Stunell said the "woeful" deficit inherited from Labour meant "very tough times" for all public services.
"Whilst I fully understand the real challenges councils face I think it will be much better to direct all our energy to solving these problems rather than falling out between ourselves," he said.
"I know just how keen every one of my DCLG [Department of Communities and Local Government] ministerial colleagues is to end Whitehall domination of local government and we are strongly committed to delivering that quickly.
"It would be a real lost opportunity if we let that slip while we engage in pointless debate. Let's get round the table and just sort this out."
The letter was published a day after Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Lord Oakeshott quit his post after criticising the government's deal on bank lending and bonuses.
Under Project Merlin, banks will lend about £190bn to businesses this year - including £76bn to small firms - curb bonuses and reveal some salary details of their top earners.
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