Middlesbrough Council sets out 拢12.8m budget cut

Job losses and the closure of libraries and sports facilities have been proposed as cost-cutting measures by Middlesbrough Council.

The moves are part of a bid to save 拢12.8m over the coming year.

About 120 council jobs face the axe over the next 12 months, and this could to rise to a total of 500 by 2015.

No final decision has been taken, and residents have been invited to comment on the options during a six-week public consultation.

Middlesbrough, which has a Labour majority but is led by Independent mayor Ray Mallon, needs to save a total of 拢50m over the next four years.

The latest savings are on top of 拢15m already identified for the current financial year.

The authority, which employs about 10,000 people, said it faced an 8.8% cut in government grants.