SENIOR officers and councillors came under fire from their own work force during a public consultation exercise into the authority's budget proposals.

Criticism was aimed at Darlington Borough Council officials on a series of matters including a proposed tax freeze, job and service cuts, senior officers' pay and the Town Crier magazine.

Monday's talking together event was arranged as part of the consultation into the 2010-11 budget proposals.

It included addresses by a number of councillors and council officers, as well as representatives from County Durham's police, fire and health bodies.

During a question and answer session which followed, the criticism was fired exclusively at the council's own representatives - chief executive Ada Burns, director of corporate services Paul Wildsmith and cabinet member for efficiency and resources Chris McEwan. All but one of the questioners came from the council's own staff.

During the meeting, it was revealed a range of options for a tax rise were drafted by financial officers.

One resident, Tim Wall, three times asked what suggestions were made to the cabinet group before he received an answer.

On the third time he spoke, he said: "We don't know what the range of options was. It is difficult for us to give opinions on what options were available."

Mr Wildsmith said there were no specific options but that central government would have likely capped any increase at three per cent, and the range included a drop in council tax.

He added: "It was never set down. It was a cabinet decision."

Another member of the audience, Colin Moore, twice asked whether senior officers' positions would be part of the cuts.

He said: "We have quite a few director and assistant directors whose wages add up to well over a million pounds."

When another woman asked a similar question, Mrs Burns replied: "There is no part of the council, no service, no bit of the organisation that will not be making a contribution."

Another member of the audience, Kath Bland, criticised the council's announcement of the proposals in its own Town Crier magazine.

She said the announcement had made no indication of any job cuts.

She added: "I think you should forget the question of should council tax be frozen and wake up to reality."

Coun McEwan said: "We have recommended that we freeze council tax recognising the pressures faced by residents in this town."

In his opening speech, council leader John Williams said: "The cabinet recognises that it is tough out there for people in their ordinary budgets and we will do everything we can to help them out through that."

* RESIDENTS have a little more than another week to put forward their views on Darlington Borough Council's budget proposals.

The council has put forward proposals to freeze council tax but make £4.7m of savings which include the loss of 77 posts.

The public consultation process continues until February 5. People can contact democratic service on 01325-388351 or email democraticservices@darlington.gov.uk or fill out a form printed in the Town Crier.

The council's cabinet will consider feedback at its meeting on Tuesday, February 16, at 5pm. The final budget will be considered at a full meeting of the council no Thursday, February 25, at 6pm.

Both meetings are open to the public and take place in the town hall.

A separate consultation event has also been arranged to discuss proposed cuts to the council's early years inclusion service.