Job cuts


Council to re-direct £5.5m to 'inadequate' children’s services 18/10/2019 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has approved plans to invest £5.5m into its children’s services following an ‘inadequate’ rating from Ofsted earlier this year.
Thomas Cook collapse could cost councils £12m a year 24/09/2019 The collapse of Thomas Cook could see councils lose around £12m a year in business rates, new estimates have suggested.
Council considers job cuts to fund children’s services 13/08/2019 Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering cutting 248 jobs in order to help fund a £5.5m cash boost for children’s services.
Dorset Council confirms over 550 council jobs are ‘at risk’ 30/07/2019 More than 550 council employees in Dorset Council have been informed that their jobs are ‘at risk’ from the restructuring of local government in the area.
One in five Welsh council jobs ‘axed’, report reveals 21/06/2019 Almost one if five council jobs in Wales have been axed in the last 10 years, according to the latest analysis.
Birmingham to axe over 1,000 jobs due to ‘brutal’ Whitehall cuts 27/02/2019 Britain's biggest council says it is facing 'the most challenging period its history' after announcing a further round of huge cuts in its workforce.
Scottish council to cut 150 jobs 08/02/2019 Aberdeenshire Council is considering cutting up to 150 jobs over the next year in a bid to make savings.
County council pays out nearly £7m in redundancy packages 29/01/2019 Essex County Council has paid £8.6m on redundancies as part of its efforts to ‘streamline’ the local authority’s operations.
Redundancy of Bournemouth council boss to cost £475,000 09/01/2019 The redundancy of Bournemouth Borough Council’s managing director will cost the council around £475,000 as part of the merger of Dorset’s councils.
Top 100: Our most popular local government stories of 2018 11/12/2018 From council pay rises to troubled outsourcing firms, here is our countdown of the 100 most popular stories on LocalGov during 2018.
Over 28,000 council jobs cut in Wales 27/11/2018 More than 28,000 local authority jobs have been lost in Wales as a result of Whitehall spending cuts, a union has revealed.
City council to cut 100 jobs to balance budget 12/11/2018 Newcastle City Council has announced the job loses as part of a series of measures to save £60m over the next three years.
County invites staff to apply for voluntary redundancy 05/11/2018 Worcestershire County Council has has invited staff to apply for voluntary redundancy scheme in the midst of a crisis in spending on care.
Welsh councils warn of 'financial winter' of redundancies 28/09/2018 Some of the extra cash being provided for health services could to be used to help struggling local authorities, council leaders in Wales have suggested.
Up to 130 jobs at risk at Somerset Council 04/09/2018 Staff will be forced to take two days unpaid leave, up to 130 jobs could be lost, winter gritting will be cut and a park-and-ride service suspended under a package of proposals by Somerset County Council to save £13m.
West Country council proposes 130 job cuts to balance books 31/08/2018 Somerset County Council has proposed over 100 job cuts in order to make savings in the face of central Government funding reductions.
Northamptonshire CC to axe 'hundreds of jobs’ due to funding crisis 20/07/2018 Services will be cut to the legal minimum and 'hundreds of jobs' axed as Northamptonshire imposes further cuts to deal with funding crisis, the council warned.
A cry for help? 21/06/2018 With a survey suggesting half of council workers are considering quitting their jobs, Mark Whitehead considers how important it is for managers to ease the fears of the local government workforce.
Council warns of 370 job cuts 14/02/2018 Aberdeen City Council is to cut 230 full-time jobs and disestablish 140 vacant positions in a bid to save more than £10m in 2018/19..
More than 450 Carillion redundancies announced 05/02/2018 A wave of redundancies resulting from the collapse of Carillion has been announced, with 452 staff losing their jobs.
Union warns of 30% job losses under council transformation plans 02/02/2018 A union has raised concerns about a transformation programme currently being implemented by Taunton Deane and West Somerset Councils which could result in staff reductions.
Council offers voluntary redundancy to its staff 23/01/2018 All non-teaching staff at Shropshire Council have been offered the chance to take voluntary redundancy in a bid to plug a funding gap of more than £59m.
Stoke-on-Trent to axe 35 jobs in new budget 21/11/2017 A total of 35 jobs could be axed in Stoke-on-Trent’s new budget as the city attempts to find £34m of savings against a background of central Government cuts.
Council to cut workforce by 15% by 2020 16/11/2017 Around 300 full-time jobs will be lost at Bath & North East Somerset Council as it tries to find savings of £16m by 2020.
Newcastle warns of 40 potential job cuts 13/11/2017 Newcastle City Council has announced it will have to save more than £13m next year and raise council tax in order to set a balanced budget, leading to the loss of 40 full-time jobs.
Council to axe 420 jobs to close budget gap 24/10/2017 Swindon council may have to axe over 400 jobs as it comes under pressure to close a £30m budget gap.
Scottish council to cut 800 jobs over next three years 05/09/2017 Angus council has warned its workforce could reduce by 800 full-time posts over the next three years as it faces a funding deficit of £40m.
Council considers cutting workforce by 20% 04/08/2017 Stroud District Council is considering reducing its workforce by 20% over the next four years in order to help plug a £3m funding gap.
Council leader denies management changes are linked to police probe 03/08/2017 The leader of Lancashire County Council has rebuked claims his plan to slash senior management posts was linked to his arrest as part of an ongoing police investigation.
Pupils ‘at risk’ from cuts to school support staff, union says 02/06/2017 The safety of pupils is being put at risk by school cuts, public sector union claims as survey reveals school office employees are carrying out tasks that go beyond their remit.
One in ten councils to cut comms teams this year 01/03/2017 Councils' communications teams have reached a 'plateau' on staff cuts, new research published today has suggested.
Liverpool council to cut 300 jobs 17/02/2017 Liverpool City Council has announced it will make £90m in budget cuts over the next three years resulting in hundreds of job losses.
Technology could make 250,000 admin roles redundant in public sector 06/02/2017 Smart machines and autonomous robots could make nearly 250,000 administrative roles redundant, report argues.
Salford Council considers cutting workforce by 133 19/12/2016 More than 100 jobs are at risk at Salford City Council, as it publishes plan to save £15.8m in 2017/18.
Scottish council considers cutting workforce 12/12/2016 The Highland Council is this week considering a plan to cut its workforce to cope with spending cuts, with a final decision to be made in February.
Newcastle management ‘shake up’ to save £500,000 07/12/2016 Newcastle City Council has announced it is ‘shaking up’ its management arrangements in a bid to save half a million pounds.
Thousands of council jobs at risk in Scotland 05/12/2016 Scottish councils have been forced to cut 7,000 jobs in the past year due to £350m funding cuts, council chiefs have warned.
Brighton announces cuts to save £24m 02/12/2016 Brighton and Hove has revealed plans to cut 140 jobs and raise council tax by nearly 4% in an attempt to save £24m.
Council to save millions by cutting 200 jobs 30/11/2016 Stoke-on-Trent City Council plans to save £61m over the next three years with the loss of 200 jobs.
Hundreds of jobs at risk as councils publish budget plans 12/10/2016 Councils have warned that hundreds of additional jobs are at risk, as they publish plans to save millions over the next four years.
Oldham Council consults staff over potential redundancies 20/09/2016 Oldham Council has warned the equivalent of more than 65 full time jobs could be lost as part of proposals to save £20m in 2017/18.
Bristol offers voluntary severance option to save millions 22/08/2016 Bristol City Council is offering its staff the option of taking voluntary redundancy in a bid to save £29m.
Care home closures put 162 jobs at risk 18/08/2016 Britain’s biggest care home group is closing three of its homes putting over 150 jobs at risk because they are ‘operating at a loss’.
London council halts plans to cut redundancy pay 21/07/2016 The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has reversed a decision to cut redundancy payouts while it undertakes a major overhaul of public services.
2,000 council jobs could be cut at Leeds City Council 20/07/2016 Leeds City Council is warning up to 2,000 jobs are at risk due to funding cuts, some of which may be made through compulsory redundancies.
A ‘new public sector’ 28/06/2016 Mike Gill calls on local government to find ways to excite, engage and capture the enthusiasm of the public - and its staff.
York Council considers cutting number of senior managers 23/06/2016 The City of York Council is planning to save £230,000 in salary costs by reorganising its senior management structure.
Jobs 'under threat' from academisation plans 21/06/2016 Thousands of union members could face job and pay cuts as schools are transformed into academies, union delegate says.
Hull City Council offers voluntary redundancy to all staff 14/06/2016 Hull City Council is asking council workers to consider taking voluntary early termination (VET).
Protests as council closes children’s centres to save £8.5m 13/05/2016 Union activists are today protesting in Hampshire against Tory-controlled council plans to close children’s centres.
Turning challenges into opportunities 11/04/2016 Redundancy and change programmes can create anxiety and unhappiness for the workers they impact. Bev White argues that change can be a catalyst to create new opportunities both for the individuals and the organisation.
Closure of Tata Steel could cost the Government £4.6bn warns think tank 07/04/2016 The jobs lost if Tata Steel was to close would cost the Government £4.6bn over the next ten years, according to new analysis by a think tank.
Watchdog warns about 'starker choices ahead' for councils 17/03/2016 Councils in Scotland have been warned that cutting staff numbers and increasing charges is neither 'sustainable nor sufficient' to meet future budget cuts, by a public spending watchdog.
Glasgow to lose 1,500 council jobs because of ‘double whammy’ in cuts 11/03/2016 Glasgow City Council will be radically reducing their workforce over the next financial year in an attempt to close a multi-million pound spending gap.
Fife Council will axe 2,000 jobs 25/02/2016 The Scottish council needs to make £91m worth of savings and so will be cutting 2,000 jobs over the next three years.
Day of action to protest against council job and service cuts 11/02/2016 Local government union Unison is today holding a day of action in Scotland to campaign against cuts in local services and jobs.
All Scottish councils accept funding deal 10/02/2016 Council leaders in Scotland have ‘reluctantly’ accepted the £350m funding cut from the Scottish Government.
Spending cuts put 25,000 council jobs at risk warns union 02/02/2016 More than 25,000 job cuts are being planned at 52 councils across the country, according to new figures published yesterday.
Council taskforce launched in response to Berwick factory closure 19/01/2016 A taskforce led by Northumberland County Council has been set up following the planned closure of a major employer in Berwick.
Union to discuss options in the face of 330 job losses 19/01/2016 GMB Scotland will consult with its members over Falkirk Council’s proposals to cut 330 jobs.
500 council jobs threatened as council forced to make record savings 12/01/2016 Leicestershire County Council will cut an estimated 500 full-time jobs in an attempt to save £26m this year--the highest annual saving it has ever had to make.
‘Catastrophic’ budget will cost 15,000 council jobs 17/12/2015 Council leaders in Scotland have warned that funding cuts of £350m – announced in yesterday’s budget – will lead to 15,000 job cuts and significant service reductions.
Birmingham Council could cut 1,200 jobs 10/12/2015 Birmingham City Council has warned 1,200 jobs will be lost as it tries to find savings of £250m over the next four years.
5,000 council staff at risk of redundancy 09/12/2015 Up to 5,000 council benefit administrators could be made redundant, according to an exclusive report from our sister magazine The MJ.
Nearly 200 jobs at risk at Nottinghamshire County Council 02/12/2015 More than 180 jobs are at risk as a result of saving at least £62m over the next three years, Nottinghamshire County Council has warned.
Newcastle Council warns of job and service cuts 02/12/2015 Vital services such as social care will have to be cut and 250 jobs axed to make savings, Newcastle City Council has announced.
Councils announce ‘heartbreaking’ job cuts 27/11/2015 Two councils have warned of job and service cuts, following the spending review earlier this week.
Scottish councils warn of service and jobs cuts 23/11/2015 Scottish councils are facing half a billion pounds of financial pressures in the next financial year, council bosses are warning.
Portsmouth warns of 100 job cuts 18/11/2015 Residents of Portsmouth have backed a rise in council tax to help protect services as part proposals which will also see 100 job cuts at the council.
County to cut hundreds of jobs in plans to save £65m 17/11/2015 Lancashire County Council’s plans to save £65m in the next two years will result in the loss of 367 jobs.
Croydon offers voluntary redundancy to its staff 16/11/2015 Croydon Council is offering voluntary redundancy to its staff in order to save £100m over the next three years.
Councils cutting 11,766 jobs warns union 10/11/2015 Councils have announced plans to cut nearly 12,000 jobs to meet 2016/17 budget plans, according to new research from GMB.
Southampton warns 182 jobs could be cut 10/11/2015 Southampton City Council has warned 182 jobs are at risk as it tries to plug a funding shortfall of £39.1m by 2016/17.
Fire and rescue cuts could put people at risk warns watchdog 05/11/2015 Further funding reductions to fire and rescue services could put public safety at risk and led to cuts in the number of fire fighters, new research has revealed.
Council's three weekly bin collection could cost jobs warns union 04/11/2015 Newport City Council will face ‘heavy’ job losses if it proceeds with proposals to move to three weekly bin collections and cut back on grass cutting, a trade union is warning.
Hampshire County Council to axe 450 jobs 25/10/2015 Hampshire County Council has approved cuts of up to £98m, which could lead to 450 jobs being axed.
Scottish council could axe over 1,000 jobs 23/10/2015 North Lanarkshire Council could axe more than 1,000 full-time jobs in a bid to find savings of £45m in the next three years.
2,200 jobs lost as Redcar Steel closes 13/10/2015 The Redcar Steel works will close after no offer to purchase them came forward, the Insolvency Service announced yesterday.
Councils plan joint management team 13/10/2015 A plan to create a single senior management team to run Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils could save both authorities £280,000.
Unions to protest over 3,000 job losses at Glasgow City Council 09/10/2015 Trade unions are planning to protest at Glasgow City Council later this month, over plans to cut 3,000 jobs over the next two years.
County council warns of 250 job losses 07/10/2015 250 council jobs may be lost as part of a drive by East Sussex County Council to save £23m in the next financial year.
Council leaders defend redundancy payments 29/09/2015 Welsh councils have defended spending £100m in redundancy payments over the past three years, saying it is the ‘political equivalent of blaming the victim’.
Edinburgh approves £126m savings measures 25/09/2015 The City of Edinburgh has approved a range of measures to meet a £126m funding shortfall, and will proceed with further discussions on compulsory redundancies, despite a previous pledge not to do so.
Edinburgh warns of 2,000 job losses 18/09/2015 Edinburgh city council has warned it may cut 2,000 jobs over the next two years to cope with a budget shortfall.
Council leader demands Capita meeting after jobs U-turn 26/08/2015 Bury Council’s leader has hit out at Capita’s plans to axe 350 jobs at its site in the town, warning the move will have ‘a devastating effect on the local economy’.
All staff at Argyll and Bute Council to be offered voluntary redundancy 24/08/2015 Argyll and Bute Council is to invite all staff to consider applying for redundancy in a bid to save up to £26m over the next five years.
South Tyneside Council warns of 600 job cuts 19/08/2015 Up to 600 jobs could be cut by South Tyneside Council, as it warns it must find savings of at least £55m over the next four years.
County to cut 2,500 jobs amid £685m savings drive 05/08/2015 A county is to cut 2,500 jobs over the next three years as it looks to save £685m over a nine-year campaign of savings.
Impact of council cuts 'not yet understood', warns care president 10/07/2015 Children's care directors have issued a stark warning that the full impact of council cuts will take as long as three years to understand.
Councils and unions push for new Welsh funding deal 10/07/2015 Councils and trade unions have demanded fairer funding for Wales, amid fears of significant job losses and service cutbacks.
Poll reveals job security fears are rife across public sector 23/06/2015 Almost two-thirds of public sector workers fear for their job as a result of cutbacks and 57% believe the private sector offers a more attractive alternative, according to a survey.
Loss of top council jobs ‘a good thing’, says Welsh first minister 23/06/2015 Top local government jobs will be lost under the planned shake-up of Welsh councils, the first minister has said.
3,000 jobs to be cut at Glasgow City Council 19/06/2015 Glasgow City Council has unveiled a new 'transformation programme' that includes the loss of 3,000 jobs and £103m savings over the next two years.
North east suffers most from job cuts, figures show 18/06/2015 Cuts in public sector jobs have hit some regions harder than others, according to the latest figures.
Exclusive: UKIP reveals ‘unnecessary’ jobs councils should eliminate 16/04/2015 UKIP would task councils with eliminating ‘unnecessary’ jobs including limo drivers, chief executives, and press officers, LocalGov can reveal.
Council staff promised block on redundancies for two years 02/04/2015 Council staff in Sandwell have been promised there will be no more compulsory redundancies for the next two years in a landmark new deal.
Further streamlining ahead for local government workforce 19/03/2015 David Fagan and Jawaid Rehman suggest the future local government workforce will be an increasingly streamlined one.
Cumbria County Council to cut 1,800 jobs 20/02/2015 Some 1,800 jobs are to be cut at Cumbria County Council in the next three years, as the town hall approves ‘drastic steps’ to save £84m.
London and South East shielded from public sector job losses 20/02/2015 London and the South East have been relatively protected from public sector job losses that have hit other areas of the UK, research suggests.
New figures reveal ‘deeply worrying’ fall in social services posts 13/02/2015 Councils have been shedding social services staff at a rate of 10,000 a year since 2011, latest statistics have revealed.

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This issue of Local Government News explores how councils can tackle modern slavery and trafficking in their supply chains, finds out more about Cambridge's first cohousing scheme and the launch of a new project to build a shared service pattern library for local government.

This issue also contains a special focus on children's services and how councils are protecting children following local safeguarding children boards being abolished.