COUNCILLORS have yesterday voted to axe more than 200 jobs and increase council tax in Southampton.

Approval for another round of cutbacks was given by a majority of city councillors at the Civic Centre this afternoon.

The vote came after Labour's proposals were fiercely debated by party chiefs and members of the Conservative and anti-cut opposition groups.

It means that council tax will go up by 1.99 per cent from April 1, while public toilets in Woolston and Portswood will close.

The axe has come down on 226 jobs - mainly in the council's adult social care department - although Labour insist some people affected will be transferred to the Better Care initiative between the council and the CCG, which starts in April.

The decision means that almost 300 positions will be axed this year when other cuts already approved are taken into account.

The budget also included the confirmation of the closures of Woodside Lodge care home, Kentish Road respite centre and day services for people with learning disabilities.

The final decision on their future came earlier this year, although council leader Simon Letts gave his assurance that no service would be closed unless suitable alternatives were found for the vulnerable residents affected.

It now means more than 600 jobs have been lost at the council over the past three years - and Cllr Letts and finance chief Stephen Barnes-Andrews stressed that there will be fresh cuts to come over following years as well, with the council expected to have to find more than £30m for 2016/17 and £90m of cuts by 2019.

Cabinet member for finances Stephen Barnes-Andrews said: "The first and overriding duty of legal duty of members is to weigh the needs of service users against those of tax payers - it is very, very challenging.

"Local government over the last four to five years has taken the largest hit next to benefits, and I have a great deal of affection for local government, and it causes me great sadness to bring a budget like this."

Saying Government funding cuts were leading to the current's current predicament, his party colleague Andrew Pope added: "we are facing a very difficult situation in how to run this council."

Conservative opposition finance spokesman John Hannides accused Labour of having a "despicable record" and told them: "you turned your back on the elderly, the vulnerable, the young, you cut funding for the libraries and bus users.

"Yet there's nothing in today's budget that tries to address any of this."