COUNTY Hall says it needs to find an extra £20million in savings by 2016.

Previous estimates by Essex County Council predicted the authority needs to reduce spending by £215million.

But officers have now revised this upwards to at least £235million, in part due to an expected halving of government funding between this year and 2016/17 with a £117million reduction.

Senior councillors are set to discuss the county council’s long-term financial strategy at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Council leader David Finch said: “Through our hard work and careful financial management we saved £365 million by March this year. However, while our funding is being cut, the demand for our services continues to grow.”