FAITH schools are among the losers as the cabinet for Essex County Council recommends service cuts at its annual budget meeting.

Redundancies and the council’s long term transformation has lessened the impact on services in 2011/12 but some cuts are still needed to cope with the massive drop in Government grants.

Home to school transport has been hit for a second time in three months with further cuts. Library hours are set to be reduced, recycling centres could close and control of on-street parking could be taken over by new council partnerships - or even private companies - to save money.

These are on top of cuts in services to extra care homes, selling off children’s homes and the removal of the Connexions youth service announced late last year.

All are subject to full council approval later this month - but have been recommended by the dominant party’s cabinet.

Preparations made over the last two years by the council has restricted the loss of services with other councils in a far worse situation, according to the cabinet, opposition and the trade union Unison.