Ray Mallon outlines Middlesbrough budget cut proposals

Ray Mallon proposes a 3.5% rise in council tax

Middlesbrough's elected mayor has given details of how the council could make savings of almost £14m in 2012-13.

At an extraordinary meeting of the council, Ray Mallon outlined proposals to cut a number of services and facilities, including a reduction in crossing patrols.

He also recommended raising council tax by 3.5%.

The authority, which employs about 10,000 people, is expected to lose up to 120 jobs over the next 12 months.

Facilities facing the axe include children's centres, community centres, the dial-a-ride service, Middlesbrough Deaf Centre and Clairville Stadium.

However, two local libraries, the North Ormesby Youth and Community Centre and the Southlands Centre, which were threatened with closure, could be spared.

The independent mayor who leads the authority, which has a Labour majority, first unveiled his draft proposals in October.

A six-week consultation exercise was then carried out, which highlighted a number of public concerns.

The recommendations will be put to the council and a final decision made in March 2012.