THE leader of Worcestershire County Council has accused the Labour opposition of "political posturing" after the group called for government intervention in the running of the council.

Conservative leader Simon Geraghty branded the Labour group's call for an emergency meeting, claiming the council is in "total turmoil", as "unnecessary".

The meeting is due to take place tomorrow.

Cllr Geraghty said: "Labour are yet again engaging in political posturing in calling this unnecessary extra council meeting.

"Our administration is focused on getting on with the job of implementing our ambitious plan for the county and improving key council services - something we were democratically re-elected to do only a few months ago.

"Like every responsible public organisation we have to ensure the council continues to live within its means and we will set out our plans to do so in the forthcoming budget this December."

Last week the Labour group made a formal request for an emergency meeting to discuss concerns over the financial state of the Conservative run council and the safety of its services.

This followed proposals to cut £60 million of the council's budget over the next three years.

Labour is putting a motion of no confidence in the Conservative leadership.

Labour say a failing children’s service, which has been rated inadequate by Ofsted and seen Essex County Council brought in to help, means children "are not safe".

Labour group leader at Worcestershire County Council Peter McDonald said: "Council finances are in crises, austerity budgets have now caused total turmoil; as a consequence children’s services are to be taken away from county council because children are not safe in the hands of the council.

"No services are now safe in the county’s hands.

"The austerity cuts of the past and present are going to decimate all services and put vulnerable residents and children at risk.

"The Labour Group believe this Tory incompetence and their continual cuts in services with some £60m additional cuts to be made has put the county council in a serious and a perilous position, caused by their incompetence and fiscal ineptitude.

"We have no confidence that the Conservatives will do what is needed.

"We know they will cut deeply into the services needed and required by the most vulnerable of Worcestershire’s residents.

"We need urgent intervention to protect services and restore confidence."

The extraordinary meeting is at County Hall at 10am.