MORE than 200 jobs could be lost and several services could be hit by further cuts as county bosses try to balance the books.

Residents could be charged for services that are currently free, some libraries could close, council tax could be increased by 4% and a number of health services could be affected as Hampshire County Council (HCC) is trying to save £80m by 2021.

The proposals show that £43.1m could be saved in the department of adult social care and public health, with the potential loss of 120 full time jobs in the adult social care sector.

An official document says the saving target “will challenge the department like never before, and it is inevitable that there will be impacts on front-line services”.

A total of 223 jobs could be at risk, including up to 58 jobs in the Library Service sector and up to 25 within the Economy, Transport and Environment department.

Concerns have been raised over the impact the proposed cuts will have in the long term.

According to official documents published by HCC,  the almost 300 people with a learning disability across the county could see a reduction of one-to -one and two-to-one support in a  move that would save £2m.

Kevin Gardner, CEO at Solent Mind, the charity that provides services to support people with mental health problems across the southern region, said the council is facing a  huge task.

But he added: “Reduced investment in prevention may help balance the books in the short term, but risks a need for more intensive and costly support in future years.”

There could also be a reduction in the support for families and children where one or both parents are alcohol or drug dependant as well as  a reduction in services for people affected by domestic abuse.

Services for children and young people moving from children’s to adults social care could also be affected.

Residents could also be charged to dispose of non-household wood waste such as fence panels and sheds and they could also be asked to pay for parking at countryside sites where it is currently free.

Street lights could be switched off for longer hours and some libraries could be closed.

Cllr Keith House, Lib Dems leader at HCC, said: “Every job that’s lost reduces services to Hampshire residents.

2Conservative mismanagement of finance is costing Hampshire residents dear.”

The proposals will be discussed by executive members at HCC next week.

Cllr Keith Mans, council leader at HCC, said: “These proposals will set out a range of options for how the county council could meet the significant funding gap it faces by April 2021 – which are the direct result of further reductions in our funding from Government, rising costs and inflation, and growing demand for council services such as social care.

“While no final decisions are to made until November 2019, there can be no doubt, that without a long term national strategy in place for the funding of adult social care, some difficult decisions lie ahead in the way we support our population.”