Birmingham-based quango, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, is to be axed with the loss of more than 120 jobs.

The organisation, which aims to boost library services and cultural learning, is based at Grosvenor House, central Birmingham. It is be wound up and its functions transferred to other bodies by April 2012.

The move forms part of a Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) review of public bodies, which will see 55 organisations merged, abolished or streamlined as part of the Government’s cost-cutting drive.

The MLA’s chairman Sir Andrew Motion and chief executive Roy Clare pledged a smooth and orderly transition to deliver the best possible future for the country’s museums, libraries and archives.

DCMS has been asked to make £88 million of savings as part of the planned £6.2 billion public spending cuts for 2010/11, announced by Chancellor George Osborne.

The UK Film Council is also to be scrapped and the UK Sport and Sport England merged. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the changes would cut costs while increasing accountability and “focus efforts on frontline services.”