UNION and staff representatives have urged council leaders to protect services and jobs by re-considering a proposed tax freeze.

Darlington Borough Council's cabinet group was asked to opt for a two per cent tax rise this year.

Alan Docherty, a Unison representative in Darlington, told Tuesday's cabinet meeting that the union was "not very happy with the current set of proposals".

He said they would impact on the delivery of the council's services, as well as jobs and working conditions.

Mr Docherty added: "It is the overall strategy which worries us and the fact that there seems to be a move from being a provider and deliverer towards being a commissioner.

"We think that will be detrimental to the people of the town. We will be no longer a dog but the tail of a dog and things won't be as good as they are now."

Mr Docherty said staff morale had suffered as a result of the news, including among gritting staff who are working throughout the night but worried future overtime payments were at risk.

He suggested a two per cent rise - equivalent to 30p extra per week on band A properties - to protect jobs and services.

He said: "It is not exactly a lot of money."

The proposals include job cuts across the board including up to 59 redundancies and another 18 posts being unfilled. Some premium payments and car user allowances are also at risk.

Dawn Taylor, speaking on behalf of trading standards staff, said the service was at risk because of the cuts.

Bob Wood, another Unison representative, added that some services would face harsher cuts. The customer services department would lose 10 posts - equivalent to a third of its team.

A period of public and staff consultation will take place for the next month until further reports are tabled to cabinet on February 16 and the full council on February 25.

Council leader John Williams said: "There has been a lot of emphasis on the negative today. Despite the tough times we are in, there is good news in this budget."

He said more money would be put into the schools and social care budgets and a total of 143m was available for capital schemes, including roads and new schools.

Councillor Heather Scott said: "It is unfortunate that that the saving over the past two years put forward by the Conservatives had not been implemented."

Councilor Mike Barker, on behalf of the Liberal Democrats, said: "A zero percent rise is an election gimmick in an election year."