Northamptonshire County Council wants to cut 150 jobs

The draft budget was presented at a press conference at County Hall

About 150 jobs are set to be cut as Northamptonshire County Council makes savings of £32m from its budget.

The Conservative-run council said it would also freeze council tax for a third year and give Northamptonshire Police £300,000.

More efficiency savings would come from sharing resources with nearby counties, the council said.

The Liberal Democrat opposition said the proposals would "hit the vulnerable hard".

'Economic growth'

The savings are part of a four-year plan to cut £105m.

Northamptonshire County Council has an annual budget of £1.08bn and currently employs 9,000 staff.

The £300,000 allocated to Northamptonshire police would go towards community safety work in the county.

Councillor Bill Parker, cabinet member for finance, said: "The proposed funding is a continuation of the council's financial support for community safety priorities."

Other proposals include merging the council's highways department with its contractor MGSWP and sharing fire and rescue services and management with Warwickshire.

Council leader Jim Harker said: "Our draft budget reaffirms our commitment to creating the right conditions for economic growth in the county."

Chris Stanbra, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said the council was making the wrong choices.

"The Conservatives continue to target the voluntary sector and frontline services to the vulnerable with their cuts in Northamptonshire," he said.

"The finances have been worsened by the Conservatives incompetence locally."

The proposals will be discussed by the full council in February after an eight week public consultation.