More than 200 jobs are set to go in new Southampton City Council budget proposals

City councillors will vote on the latest budget – and as well as meaning the end for 226 jobs it will see council tax go up by 1.99 per cent for a second year.

Last night Labour civic leaders moved the budget for final approval at today’s full council meeting.

If, as expected, it is voted through at the Civic Centre then it means almost 300 jobs will be lost at the council this year when other cuts are taken into account.

Labour says the cuts – which have seen them plug a £31m black hole for 2015/16 through service cuts, tax rises and one-off pots of government funding – have been forced on them by continuing grant cuts by government.

They insist that with most affected positions being in the adult social care department many staff members will find new jobs in the Better Care initiative, which is set to come into force in April.

Better Care will see the council share a £130m annual budget with the city Clinical Commissioning Group to spend on integrating health and social care across the city.

The council’s budget cuts also include the closure of public toilets in Portswood and Woolston, and Woodside Lodge care home, Kentish Road respite centre and day services for people with learning disabilities.

Adrian Vinson, Lib Dem spokesman, told the meeting that Portswood’s toilets had helped the shopping centre survive.

He said: “Please, unless you can demonstrate that there are accessible, unintimidating alternatives do not close the facility, which is not only important to many individuals but also a factor which has helped sustain Portswood district centre in these difficult times.”

At last night’s council cabinet meeting leader Simon Letts said: “We are not in a position to save services only then to close them the following year. I think that is a dishonest way to go with the public.

“Some decisions will go through because of the trajectory of public finances.”

The cuts have been criticised by rival parties and Trade Union and Socialist Coalition spokesman Nick Chaffey called on Labour to perform a last-ditch U-turn and not vote them through.

He said: “We call on Southampton’s Labour councillors to match the courage of the city’s workers and communities who have stood up to resist the cuts and refuse to vote for the cuts.”

And the Green Party’s parliamentary candidate for Southampton Test, Angela Mawle, said: “Whilst the flawed logic of austerity reigns supreme we are cutting the very services that keep our country functioning.

“It is a mark of a civilized society that it should provide people with the basic needs of health, housing, income and security.”

Southampton City Council leader Simon Letts