SOUTHAMPTON: Financial gloves are set to come off as hard-pressed city council tries to balance its books by axing £5million-plus of jobs and services and raising council tax by 5% Revolt over council's proposed £5m cuts THE financial gauntlet has well and truly been laid down.

Council bosses in Southampton have unveiled which jobs and services they believe could be axed if it has to make more than £5m worth of savings next year.

Now council leader Adrian Vinson and his Liberal Democrat Cabinet are bracing themselves for the full public backlash to the proposals put forward by council officers - and brace themselves they must.

Pensioners, residents leaders, sports groups and business bosses have all threatened to revolt over the potential hit list, revealed in yesterday's Daily Echo.

Among the cuts being considered include a reduction in cleaning staff in shopping areas across the city, closing four football pitches at Green Park and the closure of the council's prestigious Museum of Archaeology located in the historic Gods House Tower.

Drastic job cuts could also take place with up to 96 full-time posts facing the axe if the draft proposals are implemented in full.

If, as they predict, a five per cent council tax increase were agreed, council tax for a typical Band D property in the city would rise from £1,098.52 to £1,153.42 - a rise of £54.90.

This all comes as the city council plans to balance a £5.8m funding gap in its £265m budget.

Responding to the proposed job loses, Mike Tucker, Southampton branch secretary of Unison, felt it was just more of the same from the council, which as part of this year's budget axed 40 jobs.

He said: "This year has seen a far greater reduction in jobs than in the last three years and cover a greater range of services. Obviously Unison and council employees oppose the number of cutbacks and we will be meeting with members to talk about how we will respond.

"Our concern is that these cuts are to ensure they have money to fund privatisation of council services. Rather than cut services to fund privatisation the council should focus on putting money into the public sector."

Final budgets for the three political parties will be issued in January next year - with the final budget then due in mid-February.

The council is keen to consult with members of the public on the proposals. To make your voice heard write by Christmas by e-mailing spending. priorities@southampton.gov.uk.

The full list of the proposals can been seen at www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/breifing/