City council leaders are now taking a fresh look at next year's budget, after scrapping controversial proposals to charge for garden waste collections.

Deputy leader Les Tickner, finance and resources portfolio holder, said they are currently "looking at all options" as they work to plug a "serious shortfall" in the Carlisle City Council budget.

He blamed the Government for the financial blackhole, saying that council tax is being swallowed up nationally, leaving local authorities struggling to fund anything but statutory services. "We are right down to the bone," he said.

The green bin charges, which would have seen householders pay £30 a year for garden waste collections from April, were one idea the Labour-led council came up with to ease pressures.

But it was met with a backlash locally, with Conservative rivals branding it a "garden tax" and hundreds of residents signing a petition.

Mr Tickner said they have listened to what residents said, including concerns about the extra cost - resulting in the plan being scrapped.

However he said they must now look at other options if they are to plug the shortfall in the council budget.

But they are also working to increase income - including through local business growth and housing schemes - to ease pressures.

Mr Tickner said their finalised plans would go out to public consultation before Christmas.

Council leader Colin Glover said that the Government has still not made it clear exactly how councils will be funded after the next financial year, making it difficult to properly plan.

But he stressed that they are committed to protecting frontline services.