COUNCIL bosses in Salford facing tough budget cuts are to launch their new housing strategy - at a top Italian restaurant.

About 80 officers, councillors and guests will take over Puccini's in Swinton next week for lunch at a cost of £1,200 to the taxpayer. Labour councillors say they chose the restaurant because no council building was available.

The eaterie, which is favoured by England's soccer team, will shut at lunchtime on Wednesday to accommodate the council party.

Last week Sven Goran-Eriksson's squad had dinner at the restaurant after the Denmark match at Old Trafford.

The cost of the council event and the decision to provide lunch has been criticised by a Lib Dem councillor.

But ruling Labour councillors insist it is the best venue as there were no council buildings available.

This week Salford city council learned that it faces making cuts or large tax rises after an increase of just 3.5 per cent - the minimum - was earmarked for its government grants to deal with education and social services.

Bill Hinds, the council's corporate services spokesman, said the council had been "stuffed" by the government settlement and described it as "extremely challenging".

At a meeting of the city council Lib Dem Bob Boyd demanded to know why the restaurant had been chosen for the launch.

Simple menu

He said: "This seems a waste of money and to say that no council property could be found sounds hardly credible."

The restaurant owner, Michele Pucci, said: "The council didn't choose the most expensive menu. They are not going overboard, they chose a simple one.

"The councillors support this restaurant, they come in here for lunch. It was the least we could do. We don't normally shut - the last time we did was for the England team so they could have some privacy."

The launch, called A Fresh Start for Housing in Salford, will outline a bold agenda for the coming years which includes some demolition of council housing.

Council leader John Merry said: "We have some very important people coming to the launch, including tenants' leaders and government officers.

"We wanted to stage it in nice friendly surroundings and need to provide some kind of hospitality. This is the most economical way of doing it.

"Some time ago we discontinued our own catering facilities for this kind of event. It is a local business and we are happy to support the restaurant."

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