THE first meeting to discuss the latest round of council cuts will take place tonight.

Campaigners, union leaders and councillors will be among those who will speak at Darlington Borough Council's cabinet meeting.

The cabinet produced a draft budget last week that included £10.8m-worth of savings as a result of its 25 per cent cut in Government funding.

Budget proposals include the closure of the Arts Centre, Cockerton Library, East Row toilets, the withdrawal of bus subsidies, increased parking charges on Sundays, focusing CCTV on the town centre, not opening the Dolphin Centre on bank holidays and changes to school crossing patrols.

The council will also make 155 redundancies, introduce three days' unpaid leave for staff and impose a further three-year pay freeze.

Council tax is also likely to increase by 3.5 per cent from next year.

Councillors will again ask the public for their views on the proposals.

As well as tonight's public meeting, at 5pm in the town hall, the final proposals will be heard by a meeting of the cabinet and full council.

There will also be five Talking Together consultation events at the Dolphin Centre as follows: Monday, December 5, from 6pm to 8pm, for the public; Friday, December 9, from 2pm to 4pm, for disabled people; Monday, December 12, from 2pm to 4.30pm, for older people; Saturday, January 7, from 10am to noon, for younger people; Tuesday, January 17, from 6pm to 8pm, for the public.

This year, the public can also make their comments known on Twitter by going to @darlingtonbcvia Alternatively, go to darlington.gov.uk, calling 01325388330 or write to Darlington Borough Council, Freepost Licence No DL64, Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington, DL1 5QT.