WEEKLY rubbish collections will not change to money-saving fortnightly ones despite the council's gloomy predictions about next year's budget.

Councillors have painted a bleak picture of the amount of money they expect from the Government to deliver the same level of services next year.

"We're anticipating a fairly tough budget settlement, that's the sign we are getting," said board member for corporate services, Clr Peter Walker.

"Last year was very difficult - we were forced to make £8m savings - and as a minimum, the financial plan is expecting us to be in that same position.

"The indication from the Government is that the Chancellor will be imposing very limited increases in grants - the maximum we are expecting is a two per cent increase and that's being optimistic.

Addressing concerns from other members that areas like education and waste management would suffer from any cutbacks, Clr Walker said executive board members would be consulted throughout the budget planning for 2008/09, which has started earlier this year to gain a clear idea of costs.

Council leader Ian Marks said the key to managing the Government funding cuts was to do things in a different, more efficient and more creative way'.

But one service that won't be delivered differently for now is the borough's bin collections.

Speaking after a report by MPs criticised fortnightly collections as being inappropriate for certain urban areas, Clr Brian Axcell, board member for waste management, said Warrington would be staying weekly.

"The current arrangements are certainly going to continue for all this year and for some time beyond," he said.

"Waste collection is a core business - there won't be cuts in that service."

But he admitted that a long-term solution to reduce expensive landfill, on which Warrington is changed £33.44 a tonne, needed to be found.

While praising residents for helping the council hit 30 per cent recycling targets, he warned: "The bar is being raised all the time.

By 2010, it will be 40 per cent, but we have time to consider how to meet that target."