Cuts | LocalGov


GMB: Local government workforce cut by 600,000 22/04/2025 Local authorities across England and Wales have lost almost 600,000 members of staff since 2012, a public sector union has found.
Charity criticises 40% adoption funding cut 16/04/2025 Adoption experts have criticized the Government’s decision to cut funding for therapy for adopted children in England.
EXCLUSIVE: Sector bodies decline to join legal challenge 03/04/2025 County Councils Network and Rural Services Network will not financially support legal action over axing of the £100m rural services grant, The MJ understands.
Whitehall dismisses Homes England cull reports 02/04/2025 Reports the Government plans to abolish Homes England as part of a cull of quangos have been dismissed by Whitehall.
Aberdeen council accused of ‘fire and rehire’ threat 28/03/2025 Unite has accused Aberdeen City Council of threatening workers with ‘fire and rehire’ proposals as part of an industrial dispute, a claim the council denies.
Brum council threatens redundancies to end bin strike 28/03/2025 Birmingham City Council will begin a consultation on compulsory redundancies in an effort to end the bin strike, a move Unite describes as ‘bully boy tactics’.
Cuts to disability benefits could cost councils £1.2bn 24/03/2025 The Government's cuts to disability benefits could lead to £1.2bn of extra costs for social care services and the NHS, according to a think tank.
Celebrities speak out against cuts to disability support 20/03/2025 Celebrities, including Rosie Jones and Sir Stephen Fry, have spoken out against benefit cuts, arguing they will force disabled people to use food banks.
Unions brand reunification service closure ‘callous’ 19/02/2025 Cambridgeshire CC’s decision to close down a service helping children in care would harm vulnerable children and cost more money, unions warn.
Funding boost helps council avoid cuts 18/02/2025 Coventry City Council has dropped proposed cuts to charity-run adult services, street cleaning and council tax support due to an increase in funding.
LGA: Council tax increases no substitute for fixing funding 04/02/2025 Council leaders have warned council tax increases place ‘more financial burden on households’ without fixing the long-term pressures facing local government.
Trading standards cuts expose millions to danger 03/02/2025 Millions of people are exposed to scams and dangerous products because of understaffed trading standards teams, a freedom of information request has revealed.
Majority of county councils to hike up council tax 31/01/2025 Nine in ten county councils will have to raise council tax by the maximum permitted, the County Council Network (CCN) has warned.
Union criticises council’s plan to use AI to cut jobs 30/01/2025 UNISON has criticised Dorset Council’s decision to use AI in its transformation programme to help reduce the number of staff it employs.
Council set to make £8.6m in savings 30/01/2025 Blackpool City Council is set to make £8.6m in savings but emphasises there will be no job losses at the current time.
High Court blocks health benefit cuts 17/01/2025 Cuts to health benefits which were announced by the previous Government, and which are due to take effect in September, are unlawful, High Court rules.
Schools face ‘death by a thousand cuts’, union says 08/01/2025 Headteachers have warned that schools and colleges will be forced to make cuts if costs continue to outstrip the growth in school funding.
Council to scrap new grit bins 06/01/2025 Milder winters and fiscal pressures have prompted Dudley Council to consider stopping the introduction of any new grit bins.
Derbyshire plans cuts amid £18m shortfall 03/01/2025 Derbyshire County Council has proposed a series of cuts in the face of an £18.6m shortfall for the next financial year.
Cornwall Council proposes job cuts ahead of Christmas 17/12/2024 More than 100 employees at Cornwall Council could be made redundant in the run up to Christmas because of ‘chronic underfunding’ by the central government, a trade union has said.
English councils slash culture spending by 50% 17/12/2024 Spending on culture, heritage and libraries by English councils has been cut by more than half over the last 15 years, according to new research.
Bury Council warns ‘tough decisions’ are needed to find £35m 01/11/2024 Bury Council has warned ‘tough decisions’ will have to be made to close its budget shortfall of £35m.
Somerset could cut 450 jobs 28/10/2024 Somerset Council has announced that there will be compulsory redundancies across its workforce, with 450 posts at risk.
Up to 100 jobs to be cut at Southampton 23/10/2024 Southampton City Council has said 67 to 99 redundancies are expected to be made in the next two years.
Council considers cutting hundreds of jobs 14/10/2024 Leeds City Council is considering cutting over 260 jobs over the next four years to help combat its ‘unprecedented’ £273m financial shortfall.
APSE: Parks under threat from cuts 14/10/2024 Parks and green spaces across the country are under threat from council funding cuts, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) has warned.
Council faces ‘unprecedented’ £175m budget gap 11/10/2024 Newham council has requested emergency government funding to help close an unprecedented budget gap of £175m.
Birmingham day centres set for axe 10/10/2024 Councillors in Birmingham have been advised to approve the closure of four day centres for disabled adults.
Norfolk faces £45m budget gap 01/10/2024 Norfolk County Council is planning millions of pounds of cuts it does ‘not want to make’ in the face of a £44.75m deficit in its budget for next year.
Nearly eight million families at risk of ‘fuel stress’ 30/09/2024 A think tank has urged the Government to support vulnerable people who are no longer eligible for winter fuel payments, warning that millions are at risk.
Autumn Budget: Council chiefs warn against ‘disastrous’ cuts 13/09/2024 Council leaders have urged the Government not to make any further cuts in the Autumn Budget, warning that councils face ‘systemic financial failure’.
‘People will be angry’: Council must find £11m to avoid S114 11/09/2024 North Somerset must take ‘radical’ action to avoid issuing a Section 114 notice, the authority has said in a stark warning.
Affordable housing at risk in cash-strapped council areas 10/09/2024 Half of the councils most impacted by austerity have not built any affordable homes using contributions from private developers since 2010, a think-tank has found.
Birmingham commissioners cast doubt on budget 06/09/2024 Commissioners at Birmingham City Council have cast doubt on the authority's ability to balance its budget next year.
Cheshire East sets out plan to tackle £100m deficit 16/08/2024 Plans to address a £100m budget gap over four years will be considered by Cheshire East councillors next week.
Eastbourne warns of ‘extensive’ service cuts 14/08/2024 Eastbourne Borough Council has warned that rising costs of homelessness services have left it facing ‘extensive’ cuts to services.
Local government faces 2.4% spending cuts 22/07/2024 Local government could face annual spending cuts averaging 2.4% by 2029, with services set to deteriorate as a result, a new report has warned.
Public advised to use ‘personal lighting’ amid streetlight cuts 26/06/2024 A council in the outer Hebrides has advised people to consider using ‘personal lighting’ after announcing it would switch off streetlights earlier.
Council staff balloted for strike action 25/06/2024 Trade union Unison has announced that Kirklees Council staff at two customer service centres at risk of closure are being balloted for strike action.
Twelve Leicester children’s centres ‘under threat’ 04/06/2024 Twelve children, young people and families centres in Leicester are ‘under threat’, warns UNISON.
London sees 400% increase in blue badge thefts 04/06/2024 A fourfold increase in the number of blue badge thefts in London is partly the result of local authority cuts, warns London Assembly Member.
Public health grant cut by over 20% 30/05/2024 Services such as sexual health and drug and alcohol programmes have seen their budgets reduced by more than other health care services, a think tank has revealed.
Greenwich council repairs staff declare strike 28/05/2024 Nearly 150 workers employed by Greenwich council will go on strike today after the local authority brought in plans to cut their wages.
Council debt up by £52bn since 2010 02/05/2024 Local government debt has increased by 78% since 2010 as councils attempted to make up for cuts to Government funding, new research has revealed.
What really caused the council funding crisis? 30/04/2024 Max Mosley, NIESR, explores the origins of the local government funding crisis and warns the next government will have to act quickly to address it.
Will local government pick up the tab for increased defence spending? 30/04/2024 Cllr Graham Chapman, SIGOMA, looks at what the PM’s announcement of an increase in defence spending means for local authorities.
IFS: £2.5bn Sure Start delivered ‘substantial benefits’ 09/04/2024 Children eligible for free school meals who grew up near a Sure Start centre performed up to three grades better at GCSEs than those further away, IFS finds.
Council-run bus services cut by 90% 02/04/2024 Over 90% of council-run bus services have been cut since 2010, a new analysis has revealed.
Leader of cash-strapped Notts council to step down 12/03/2024 The leader of financially stricken Nottingham City Council has announced he is stepping down in May.
Woking BC approves 10% council tax hike 06/03/2024 Woking BC councillors have approved a nearly 10% council tax hike authorised by the Government after the council's issuing of a Section 114 notice.
Brum members approve £300m of cuts 06/03/2024 Councillors at Birmingham City Council have signed off on £300m of cuts over two years and dramatic council tax increases.
Basic efficiency savings all ‘long gone’, Chancellor told 05/03/2024 No more 'basic efficiencies' left to make, leaders tell Chancellor in response to reports he will call for consultants and diversity schemes to be cut.
Tax cuts could drive 55,000 into poverty 05/03/2024 Tax cuts reportedly being considered by the Chancellor in tomorrow's Budget could result in tens of thousands of people being driven into poverty.
Scottish Budget 'not good' for communities 28/02/2024 Next year’s Scottish Budget is ‘not good’ for communities, council leaders have said.
Warnings over job cuts repercussions 28/02/2024 Councils embarking on mass job cuts have been warned it will have grave repercussions for the senior managers of the future.
14 councils ‘likely’ to issue s114s next year 28/02/2024 More than half of councils are likely to issue a section 114 notice within the next parliament unless funding is reformed, senior local authority figures have warned.
Stoke-on-Trent warns services may be ‘stripped to the bone’ 26/02/2024 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has warned its budget plans rest on a bid to secure an extra £42.2m in Government funding.
Newcastle signs off on £15m spending cuts 21/02/2024 Newcastle City Council’s cabinet has approved budget proposals that will see spending cut by £15m over the next year.
Bristol councillors fail to approve budget 21/02/2024 Councillors have failed to agree on Bristol City Council’s proposed budget, which included a 4.99% council tax increase and more than £24m of cuts.
Brum set to sell off £750m of assets 20/02/2024 Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council is set to sell off £750m of assets and cut spending on services by £300m in an effort to balance the books.
Nottingham executive refuses to back budget cuts 14/02/2024 Executive members of cash-strapped Nottingham City Council have refused to recommend a report that sets out £20m in budget cuts.
Suffolk council leaders warn of ‘catastrophic’ HRS proposals 13/02/2024 Suffolk council leaders have warned of ‘a catastrophic effect’ on vulnerable residents should Suffolk CC agree proposed Housing Related Support changes.
Birmingham councillors back 18% pay rise delay 08/02/2024 Councillors at cash-strapped Birmingham City Council have voted to delay pay increases for members.
Kent CC proposes over 180 redundancies 02/02/2024 Kent County Council has proposed axing hundreds of jobs as part of a move to transform services and deliver savings.
Conservative MPs call for emergency funding for councils 22/01/2024 MPs representing county areas have called on the Government to provide emergency funding to cash-strapped councils to prevent further cuts to local services.
Brum considers axing 600 jobs 17/01/2024 Birmingham City Council could be forced to axe hundreds of jobs as the struggling local authority attempts to balance its books.
Scottish councils face ‘difficult decisions’ on cuts 16/01/2024 ‘Intensifying pressures’ on Scottish local authorities mean they must make difficult decisions on service delivery to remain financially sustainable, a watchdog has said.
Stoke-on-Trent council warns of ‘radical cuts’ 09/01/2024 Stoke-on-Trent City Council may be forced to declare effective bankruptcy and make ‘radical cuts’ to services if extra Government support is not secured.
Somerset Council warns of ‘heart-breaking’ cuts 08/01/2024 Public toilets, theatres, and leisure services in Somerset are set to be hit by cuts as the unitary authority attempts to bridge a £100m budget gap.
Bradford Council to cut more than 100 jobs 04/01/2024 Bradford Council is set to cut 113 jobs as part of an initiative to find £40m in the next three years in an effort to avoid declaring effective bankruptcy.
Support programme for libraries launched 03/01/2024 A charity representing public libraries has launched a support programme for council library services facing spending cuts.
Nine million adults lack essential skills 03/01/2024 Nine million adults lack essential skills with skill level disparities within local areas far exceeding those between local and combined authorities.
Birmingham outlines £150m of cuts 14/12/2023 Birmingham City Council has outlined nearly £150m of proposed savings as it tries to plug a £300m budget gap.
Quarter of Scottish councils fear bankruptcy 13/12/2023 Nearly a quarter of Scottish councils fear they will be unable to balance their budget next year, new research shows.
Nottingham proposes cutting 550 jobs 13/12/2023 Nottingham City Council has proposed cutting 554 full-time equivalent posts in an attempt to tackle its financial shortfall.
Leeds councillors to discuss axing 750 employees 06/12/2023 Senior councillors in Leeds are set to discuss plans to reduce staffing levels by 750 by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
One in five councils report bankruptcy fears 06/12/2023 A poll of council leaders and chief executives has revealed that one in five think it likely that their chief finance officer will need to issue a Section 114.
Campaigners warn of ‘silent war’ on bus services 28/11/2023 Bus services have seen a dramatic decline over the past 15 years, with provision decreasing by more than 60% in 80 local authority areas, research reveals.
Can local government take much more? 27/11/2023 Dr Andrew Walker, head of Research, LGIU reflects on the Autumn Statement and asks: what might it take for the Government to pay attention to local authorities?
Social care leaders forced to find millions in extra savings 16/11/2023 Council social care leaders are having to find millions of pounds of extra savings this year despite winter pressures approaching, a new survey has revealed.
Cambridge faces £6m budget cuts 15/11/2023 Cambridge City Council needs to make an extra £6m of savings over the next three years and £11.1m in new savings by 2029.
DCN in cuts warning 24/10/2023 Cultural services, community support and parks and green spaces are all at risk of cuts without a boost to the local government finance settlement, respondents to a District Councils’ Network (DCN) survey have warned.
Museums and the cost-of-culture crisis 11/10/2023 India Divers, policy and campaigns officer, Museums Association looks at the impact on museums of the financial squeeze faced by most local authorities.
Thousand pools shut since 2010 05/10/2023 More than 1,000 publicly accessible pools have closed since 2010, England’s governing body for swimming has found.
Hampshire County Council on ‘financial cliff edge’ 05/10/2023 Hampshire CC has warned that cuts to services and job losses are inevitable as the council is facing ‘one of the biggest budget shortfalls in its history’.
Council U-turns on decision to close 39 facilities 04/10/2023 North Lanarkshire Council has reversed its plan to close 39 community facilities after Scotland’s First Minister blasted the decision as ‘short sighted’.
Council suspends social media comments to stop ‘abuse’ after facility closures 03/10/2023 North Lanarkshire Council has suspended Twitter users’ ability to comment on its posts and said people’s anger over a decision to close 39 facilities ‘does not entitle them to post abuse’.
Council to shut 39 facilities 02/10/2023 North Lanarkshire Council has decided to close 39 community facilities in response to its financial shortfall.
Brum kicks off job cuts 27/09/2023 Birmingham City Council has started a wide-ranging programme of job cuts under emergency plans.
Derbyshire agrees measures to close £46m budget gap 22/09/2023 Councillors at Derbyshire County Council have signed off on a series of cost control measures to address a £46m budget gap.
Cash-strapped councils forced to sell £15bn of assets 21/09/2023 About 75,000 public assets worth £15bn have been sold by cash-strapped English councils since 2010, according to Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Unions reject latest COSLA offer 14/09/2023 The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has warned trade unions face a choice between ‘real cuts to jobs and services’ and increased pay.
Woking entered s114 territory in 2018 13/09/2023 Woking BC may have faced a section 114 notice at least four years before it declared effective bankruptcy, senior councillors have been told.
Government slashes pothole repair funding by £2bn 14/08/2023 The UK has fallen behind other high-income countries when it comes to funding repairs in pothole-ridden local roads, council chiefs warn.
Hastings' financial controls 'not fully developed' 31/07/2023 Senior Hastings BC councillors will be urged next week to ‘bring in and embed more stringent financial controls and accountability to urgently reduce spending’.
Third of parents say school travel affected by cuts 12/07/2023 Almost a third of parents say that their child’s school travel has been affected by funding cuts, new research has revealed.
Bankrupt Woking consults on future of services 12/07/2023 Woking Borough Council has launched a consultation on its discretionary services after it halted all non-essential spending due to unsustainable debts.
Councils face £3bn funding gap, LGA warns 04/07/2023 Councils in England face a funding gap of almost £3bn over the next two years just to maintain services at their current level, the LGA reveals.
Case for better pay ‘clear cut’, union says 13/06/2023 The case for better pay in local government is ‘compelling and clear cut’, according to Unison general secretary Christina McAnea.
Preventing future Section 114 notices 13/06/2023 Joanne Pitt, Local Government Policy manager at CIPFA, reflects on Woking BC’s financial troubles and looks at the lessons for other councils.