Member Article

660 jobs set to go at Local Authority

UP to 660 jobs are set to go at Newcastle City Council over the next year as the Local Authority tries to make savings of £45 million.

The Authority yesterday announced that it will make £28.5m of efficiency savings, raise £4.4m from fees and charges, generate £7.6m in income from other sources and save £4.8m from direct reductions in services - particularly in areas where Government grants have ceased.

The Council said that making efficiencies will allow them to safeguard priority frontline services, such as bus services and road maintenance.

Coun David Faulkner, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said : “It’s a desperate time for local councils and people who work in local councils and it gives me no pleasure whatsoever to announce a budget that involves job losses.

“It’s an extremely difficult and distressing time for our employees.”

The council said it is working closely with staff and trade unions to try and avoid compulsory redundancies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .