Libraries look likely to be saved from closure after any savings achieved by shutting them were not included in Croydon Council’s 2011 budget.

Council leader Councillor Mike Fisher said he was unable to say what would happen to the libraries until the consultation closed on February 20 but he said the council was looking at all options to keep them open.

This includes seeing if volunteers could help with some libraries and Coun Fisher said the council was in talks to see if one of the libraries earmarked for closure could move into a nearby school.

Coun Fisher also confirmed council tax would be frozen this year, despite the fact the budget contained a £22m saving in cuts and efficiencies.

And £130m in capital will be made available for improvements to trams, streetlights and road repair.

Coun Fisher said most of the savings would be made by cutting 310 council jobs through voluntary and compulsory redundancies.

Coun Fisher said: “Of course some things have had to be reduced but this is not a slash and burn budget.

“We have planned ahead carefully. In incredibly tough times, I believe Croydon has done a solid job in working for residents – keeping tax down and making investments where people want them. ”

The street cleaning budget will be cut by £700,000, which Coun Fisher admitted would mean a reduction in the regularity with which the streets will be cleaned.

The council has already given the green light for cuts of £1.35m to the youth service as well as savings of £1.35m for axing the arts services and there have been cuts of up to £1m to the voluntary sector.

And £1.2m has been axed from Sure Start funding by central Government.

Coun Fisher said Croydon would move to commission more services over the next four years in order to make savings.

More than £1m has been made available to voluntary groups who provide services for the elderly.

Labour group leader Councillor Tony Newman called the cuts “barbaric” and said his party would be coming up with an alternative budget.