A REVIEW of Newport's meals-on-wheels scheme is under way - as a last-ditch attempt to save the service fails.

It follows widespread public outcry when the council announced it would axe funding for meals on wheels and replace it with a private frozen meals service - to save £114,000.

A meeting of Newport council yesterday agreed to allow the council's cabinet to make the final decision on whether to keep the WRVS-run service, following a review.

But a proposal, made by opposition parties, to fund the service by freezing councillors' allowances and axing the council newspaper, Newport Matters, was not allowed.

Council leaders claim the proposal cannot be considered, as the budget has already been set.

As part of the review, council officers have begun putting together a report on the service.

The adult services scrutiny forum, which is conducting the review, is also to take evidence from interested parties.

Speaking at the meeting, Rogerstone councillor Stephen Jones said: "This council is on course for a head-on collision with its electorate. "It needs to listen to the public and its conscience."

In February, the council announced that from June it was to stop its funding for the city's meals-on-wheels service.

It is the first authority in Wales to cut the service on cost grounds. But after weeks of pressure from service users and WRVS volunteers it decided to look again at the issue.

Now the cabinet is to make its final decision on whether to axe the service following the review, which is expected to be complete by June. Councillor John Richards, chairman of the scrutiny forum, said: "We are not scrapping meals, just changing wheels.

"We will continue to do so as long as a Labour council is in power." Council leader Bill Bright added: "There are efficiency savings to be made. "As to how we are going to provide the service, I am not going to prejudge the review."