A CAMPAIGN to save Swansea Tennis Centre ended last night as education cuts and a council tax rise were also confirmed.

The decision came as cabinet members approved the budget in a full extraordinary council meeting.

The new budget has been designed to help make up for a £17 million shortfall.

By 2014, the authority's medium term financial plan estimates that further savings of £53 million need to be made.

The much-loved tennis centre is being closed to save the cash-strapped council around £50,000 this year alone.

But Lib Dem councillor Stuart Rice told the meeting's packed public gallery that if a solution could be sought to keep the centre running at no cost to the council then that would be supported.

"If people can come up with a proposal or an idea which allows the tennis centre to continue and doesn't cost the council money, we will listen" he said.

But Bonymaen councillor Mair Gibbs said it was unfair to take the centre away from the "thousands" of people who used it.

She added: "They pay their taxes, why should they [come up with a solution?"

Council tax is going up by 4.35 per cent for a Band D house, generating an additional income of almost £4.2 million. Housing rents will increase by an average of £1.12 a week over a 50-week rent year.

More than 100 teachers could lose their jobs in the next 12 months following education cuts of more than £5 million, with schools under further pressure as they must find £2.4 million to meet a national pay award.

But Councillor Rice told the meeting that £1 million that was earmarked to cover redundancy and early retirement costs in education will now also be used to ensure schools receive further help.

Councillor Mike Day said members had met the School Budget Forum and asked the director to work with schools "to ensure the most effective use of this available funding".

He added: "This approach will result in the retention of staff where appropriate so that an individual school is able to meet statutory requirements."

The authority will dip into its savings and temporarily use £3.5 million worth of reserves, but it is hoped the cost-cutting measures will save the authority around £9.8 million this year.

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