THE YOUNG, old and disabled face further cuts in services as county bosses aim to save £45million next year.

Hampshire County Council faces a shortfall in Government funding of £19.1m in 2012-13.

The ruling Cabinet has approved cutting the budgets of all departments by eight per cent for the second year running, including social services for vulnerable adults and children.

This is equal to savings targets of £21m in adult social services and £10m in children’s services, excluding schools, which are funded directly by the Government.

Other cuts include £6m in environmental services, including road repairs and waste disposal, and £4.7m in libraries, museums and country parks.

More details on where the axe will fall, and how many jobs will go, will be revealed this month.

Greater savings of 12 per cent are being sought from corporate services, including human resources, IT and the county treasurer’s department. As previously reported, the county is considering sharing services with the police and fire services.

However, council tax will be frozen again next year with the help of a £13.2m Government grant.

The £45m savings target comes on top of a £55m budget cut and 1,400 jobs shed last year, including a quarter of management posts.

Councillor Keith House, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, asked if it was right to cut all departmental budgets by eight per cent instead of weighing-up council priorities.

He said: “We would argue some of the children’s services have higher value for the community than others.”

But Conservative council leader Cllr Ken Thornber said that savings should be equally distributed across the council.

The council boss said the authority would look at further cuts in management and reducing overheads.

Bus services have already been cut and timetables reduced. Connexions offices providing advice to young people are closing along with nearly all day centres for adults with learning difficulties.

The £55m savings drive had meant some elderly and disabled individuals have had their support reduced, while fees have risen.

New charges have been introduced for day centres for the elderly. Library opening hours have also been cut.

The council is aiming to make the savings it needs to in two years instead of four as a result of the Government squeeze on spending.