4 March 2011 Last updated at 19:24

North Tyneside Council axes 140 jobs

Mrs Arkley claimed the savings would not be at the expense of public services

A total of 140 jobs are to be axed at North Tyneside Council after it agreed to save £24m over the next 12 months.

The council said about 90 people would leave the authority by the end of March. Most of these would be voluntary redundancies.

A maximum of 50 additional redundancies are expected over the following 12 months.

Elected Mayor Linda Arkley said the savings would not be at the expense of public services.

She said: "Despite the challenges we have made choices that protect the front line services that matter most to our residents.

"We have also focused on growing this borough - providing investment and jobs, regeneration our communities and supporting our businesses."

Council tax freeze

The council said the budget would not involve the closure of any schools, leisure centres, libraries, or children's centres, and it would continue with its weekly refuse collections.

It also agreed to freeze council tax.

The council, which is run by a Conservative elected mayor and cabinet, currently employs 4,000 people excluding teaching staff.

For the 2011-2012 financial year the council has a net revenue budget of £175m with a 10-year capital investment plan of £237m.

Over the last week it has been announced more than 1,600 local government jobs will be lost in Newcastle and Gateshead.