COUNCIL leisure and arts services could bear the brunt of proposed budget cuts worth up to £500,000, which are to be considered next week.

Fourteen jobs are under threat at Wear Valley District Council as partof savings proposed by senior managers, although six posts are already vacant and the rest could be absorbed in other departments.

Among the casualties would be the swimming development officer's post, arts officers and leisure centre cleaners and support staff.

Reducing opening hours at leisure centres in Crook, Bishop Auckland and Willington would save £70,000.

Another £75,000 would be clawed back from the leisure contract at Glenholme, in Crook, while withdrawing from a sharing arrangement at Wolsingham School pool would save £10,000.

The options are among 39 which will be considered by policy and strategic development committee members when they meet on Monday to set a budget for 2003/4.

Savings would enable Wear Valley's council tax to be frozen at last year's level, although there would be small rises in leisure centre charges, council house rents and other fees.

The report from chief executive Iain Phillips and his senior management team proposes a £2.5m programme of major projects which would tackle deprivation, address crime and youth problems, stimulate business and create jobs, boost recycling and improve housing and the environment.

It was drawn up after consultation with residents who listed crime, unemployment and lack of parking as the most common problems.

All departments were asked to bid for resources, and a scoring system was used.

Council leader Councillor Olive Brown said the leisure centres would not close.

She said: "We have listened to what the people want and put money into tackling crime, finding jobs and tackling youth issues. We have to balance our budget and we can't keep these centres open at times when they are not being used."

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Foote Wood said: "We want to be putting more money into sport, not less. It is about time the council came clean and admitted that it is going to close down leisure centres."