Wirral Council chiefs are to meet tonight to rubber-stamp a series of budget cuts aimed at saving £2.5m.

The council is required to cut its budget by a further £18m next year, after already having made cuts of more than £150m over the past four years.

Tonight a meeting of the full council is expected to approve decisions made at cabinet last week.

Options for how to achieve the savings were published for public consultation in September, with almost 8,000 residents, businesses, partners and staff providing their views.

Despite implementing a plan to scrap the 5% council tax discount to 7,000 pensioners over 70 in order to save £600,000 – described by Tory councillor Paul Hayes as “mean spirited” – cabinet did shy away from making some of the more controversial cuts when they met on Tuesday evening.

While axing 41 school crossing patrols  on existing pedestrian, pelican or puffin crossings would have saved the cash-strapped authority £900,000, this was one of a number of options pushed aside.

Also rejected were plans to remove roadside grit bins from 198 locations across the borough, closing 10 public toilets and the closure of four satellite youth centres. the introduction of car parking fees at Wirral’s countryside parks.

Plans to privatise West Kirby’s marine lake were also rejected following a petition signed by more than 4,700 people.

Cabinet also rejected plans introduce parking charges at Wirral’s countryside parks, although did approve the introduction of charges at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

Tougher measures will be brought in against littering and dog fouling, with plans to reduce community library opening hours scaled back.

The original proposal was to reduce the opening hours of community libraries to 10 hours per week but strong opposition from Friends Groups and other library users were impossible to ignore.

Instead, cabinet has put forward the proposal to keep community libraries open for 18 hours a week

Council leader Cllr Phil Davies said: “We profoundly disagree with how this government is implementing its austerity measures, and believe it is unfairly impacting on northern, deprived authorities such as Wirral.

“Despite this, as a responsible administration we have a moral imperative to set a legal, sustainable budget and we will not shirk this duty. This brings with it the requirement to make some tough decisions."

He added: "We did not come into local government to make cuts, but when they are forced upon us we feel we are duty-bound to work with the residents who elected us to engage, debate and decide where they should fall as a partnership.

The proposals will need be approved at a meeting of the full council next Monday.

Cllr Davies added: “None of the recommendations we have made are easy. We fully appreciate that they impact on jobs, on services and on residents.”

Following the meeting, Wallasey Conservative Cllr Paul Hayes said the Labour cabinet had delivered a "cruel and mean spirited" Christmas present to pensioners, following the decision to scrap the council tax discount.

He said: "By removing the Council tax discount to Wirral's over 70s at tonight's meeting- just days after deciding to offer the council's top executive an eye watering bumper pay rise, shows that Wirral Labour's priorities are at odds with the people of Wirral.

"Wirral Labour have chose to pay their chief executive more than the Prime Minister while cutting benefits to pensioners who have worked hard all of their lives. Pensioners throughout Wallasey and Wirral will be appalled."

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist said the cabinet needs to rethink their decision to cut library opening hours.

He said: "They need to pop their heads above the parapet and set out what it means, listen to the detailed feedback, and re-do their sums. The limited hours are too few.

"They may well not meet the needs of community groups who meet in libraries. How will they meet the needs of children and parents going there after school?  There’s a need to look at each library in detail and consult local people."