MEMBERS of a council have made to the decision to bring a wide range of budget cuts to help balance their books.

Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet unanimously approved the proposals which will see about 300 jobs lost in the next three years as well as reductions in community services.

Proposals to cut services to children, libraries, leisure and street cleaning from next year's budget were passed at a meeting tonight (Thursday 16) to begin saving £9.4m over the next four years.

The council could be faced with having to make even further cuts when the government’s spending review is announced next month, said council leader Bob Cook.

He said: “It’s not something that I got elected to do – to cut services and cut jobs – I never wanted this. We have already had cuts of £31m going to £51m by 2016/17.

“It is necessary this deficit is removed from the budget and the only way to do that is more service and job cuts. What we are trying to do is ensure that the most vulnerable will be the most protected by these cuts.”

The authority estimates the Government grant to the council, which makes up about half of its income, will have been cut by 58 per cent from 2010-11 to 2016-17 which adds up to about £40m.

At the same time, costs are going up, including an estimated £7m increase to pay for children's care, adult care, customer services and energy bills.

The council's cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Ann McCoy, said: “It is something that we have got do and we do have to be careful where we are making these cuts. I hope people realize that we try to protect the services that are really important and try to protect other services as much as we can.”

However, Thornaby Independent Councillor Steve Walmsley warned cabinet members that it will be the poorer people who suffer the most regardless of where the cuts were made.

Following tonight’s decision, a meeting of the full council will now be asked to consider the recommendations on June 12.