Cuts plans run from expenses to windfarms

Buying staff diaries from discount stores, turning off lights, banning colour printing and collecting rent from fast food vans would also help matters.

More than 3,000 council tax payers, staff, service users and young people responded to a survey about how the authority might make ends meet in times of austerity.

Calderdale Council expects to receive 28 per cent less from the Government over the next four years – representing about 100m less to spend on services and as many as 1,000 job losses.

The survey showed widespread support for children's services, help for the elderly and infirm, road work, refuse collection, leisure facilities and swimming pools – but there was considerable hostility towards subsidising tourism, public halls and help for businesses and employment.

According to council leader Janet Battye, the list of 42 services people were asked to pass judgement on was "arbitrary" and often complex, and people were asked to make judgements with very little background information. "But we believe the strength of the process has been in the direct contact we have had with hundreds of local people," she said.

Labour's deputy council leader Tim Swift said every effort should be made to maintain services people regarded as particularly important.

"But they can and should be delivered more efficiently," he said.

Conservative leader Councillor Stephen Baines said he would work to keep as many front line services in place as possible.

"But the only way we can do that is to look seriously at management and administration to find savings," he said.

Many of those who responded to the survey said the council had too many managers, it needed to find new ways to raise money and should focus on things that could not be done by others.

Charging householders extra if they don't recycle, making solicitors pay a fee for planning advice and selling compost rather than giving it away were also proposed.

The survey results will be discussed at 17 ward forums starting on Monday.