UP to 100 jobs could be lost at Somerset County Council as part of a package of measures aimed at saving £18 million from the authority's budget.

Councillors will discuss the budget proposals at meetings on January 28 and January 31, before the full council takes a final decision on February 19.

Overall, councillors will be asked to approve spending £300 million on services across the county.

But a raft of savings will also have to be made, with funding cuts earmarked across the board.

Areas facing funding cuts include:

l Youth and community services reduced by £936,000.

l Sheltered housing provision reduced by £500,000 over two years.

l Reducing county council staffing by up to 100.

l Closing two recycling sites with some of the savings being used to invest in increasing opening times at major sites and saving £174,000.

More efficient ways of working will also drive savings including proposals to:

l Restructure management and administration and reduce running costs of children's centres to deliver savings of around £1.7 million over two years, coupled with a proposed extra 30 more frontline staff.

l Bring self-service into libraries and make other savings totalling £300,000 next year.

Major policy changes could see significant changes in other areas, including proposals to help vulnerable elderly people stay at home for longer instead of moving into residential or nursing homes, in turn saving the council more than £1 million over four years.

Charges could also be introduced for wedding services and for advertising on the council's website.

Bus fares could go up by 15 per cent on certain routes, charges could be increased for companies digging up Somerset's roads and savings made by cutting back on some road safety initiatives and introducing charges for others.

"We have to make tough choices, but we are the same as any careful household," said council leader Cllr John Osman.

"We have a reduced income, increased bills, something has to give."

The budget also includes plans to spend more than £160 million on vulnerable adults, including support for frail and elderly people, as well as those with profound disabilities or learning difficulties.

Another £40 million has been identified for social services for children, including protecting children from abuse, adoption and fostering services.

Somerset's roads and street lighting would get a continuing investment of £30 million a year.

Speaking about the proposed budget cuts, cabinet member David Huxtable said: "It is not something we want to do but it is something we have to do – just as every council in the country is now doing.

"We are taking people's views into account where we can – that's why our Council Tax is frozen, but these are tough financial times."