CUTS totalling £85m will need to be made in Middlesbrough over the next five years, it has been estimated.

Frontline services, which so far have been protected as much as possible by a series of multi-million pound budget reductions, will eventually suffer in the town says a report presented to Middlesbrough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board today (Thursday).

PLANS to cut nearly £15m from its budget were confirmed last month as the town's mayor revealed his spending plans for the coming financial year.

Elected Mayor Ray Mallon also confirmed the loss of 300 council jobs while another 300 will be transferred to other organisations contracted to carry out some council services.

The budget requirement for 2014/15 is being set at £130.6m with the basic rate of council tax increasing by 1.82 per cent to £1,355.47 on average across the borough.

The report estimates £25m will need to be cut in 2015/16, £20m in 2016/17, £14m in 2017/18, £13m in 2018/19 and £13m in 2019/20.

The report states: “The 2014/2015 draft budget does minimise impact on frontline services but efficiency savings alone cannot meet the projected gap over the medium term. There will be a requirement to reduce frontline services.”