More cuts but Passport to Leisure saved

Passport to Leisure, a scheme which gives 12,300 young, elderly and jobless people discounted entry to swimming pools and other leisure facilities, has been saved by the council.

But Mi Card, which gives under 18s free bus travel during the day and at weekends, will suffer a cut of up to £1m as the council sets its budget for the year starting in April.

In an interview for this week's paper council leader Steve Houghton says: "We’re going to cut that by a million. It’s not what we want to do.“We’re drawing up several different options. We’re going to present them to Barnsley Youth Council and let the kids decide."

The full financial picture is explained in the Chronicle.