Northants County Council returns to the High Court next week

A disabled people's group persuaded Mr Justice Forbes to impose an injunction last week that stopped Northants County Council from finalising its budget.

They feared cutbacks to care facilities and services as the county council needs to slash its budget by �9.5m.

However the injunction was lifted after the two sides reached an agreement.

Under the terms of the settlement, the council agreed the budget would not be "dependent" on the "closure or material change" to facilities under threat.

Council concessions

The case will return to court next week, when the disabled group will seek permission to launch a judicial review challenge of the council's proposed cutbacks, arguing any such move is "unlawful".

Outside court, Yvonne Hossack, a spokesperson for the disabled people, welcomed the result but said the council should have made concessions much earlier.

"If we were given a guarantee when we asked for it on February 8, the council would not have wasted all this taxpayers' money on coming to court," she said.

James Goudie QC told Mr Justice Forbes the injunction had caused the council huge problems as the deadline for setting the budget, under statute, is Wednesday 1 March.