THREE hundred jobs could be lost at Southampton City Council over the next year as civic chiefs prepare the latest round of cutbacks.

Their bid to meet the £31m black hole in the city's finances will also see council tax rise by almost two per cent and public toilets in the city close.

Labour council bosses announced their budget proposals for 2015/16 in November, and there are no major changes to their final proposals, published today.

In total 265 posts - equivalent to 226 full-time positions - are at risk of the axe, while council tax would increase by 1.99 per cent.

Public toilets in Portswood and Woolston would also close.

In November they said they faced the task of filling a £4.3m funding gap for the 2015/16 budget.

But they have received a better than-expected handout of funding from the Government, and more money from business rates and one-off pots of funding, meaning have not had to put forward fresh cut proposals.

Their budget proposals also include already-approved plans to close Woodside Lodge care home, Kentish Road respite centre and day services for adults with learning disabilities, with the loss of 113 jobs.

Including proposals already approved by the council last September that include cutting business support teams across the council, it means 295 full-time positions are likely to be scrapped from April onwards.

The budget will come into effect if it is approved at a meeting of the council on February 11.