600 jobs at risk in fresh Northumberland Council cuts

Nov 21 2009 by David Black, The Journal

County Hall bosses say efforts will be concentrated on shedding the estimated 400 to 600 posts through voluntary redundancies and redeployment, and focusing job losses on managerial, administrative and back office functions.

Yesterday Coun Andrew Tebbutt, executive member for corporate resources, said no final decisions have been made about savings and a final budget will not be agreed until February.

“Like other councils in the region and across the whole country we’re facing some unprecedented challenges. The financial situation in the UK means that local authorities must make savings.

“The options contained in the report to the executive will help us develop a budget that is committed to making savings while continuing to provide quality services for residents and keeping council tax down.”

Mark Wilson, the GMB’s officer for the county council, said the union feared further privatisation of services, cuts in services and the potential for compulsory redundancies. He said: “It will be a couple of months before we get down to the nitty gritty of what they are proposing.

“I can’t see any way that the council can deliver the current level of services and find £28m in budget savings.”

Unison regional officer Tony Martin said: “If they are talking about another 400 to 600 posts going it is clearly a concern. Continually cutting back office functions will eventually hit front line services.”

County council finance director Steven Mason said the £30m savings figure represented a “worst case scenario” for planning purposes.

Yesterday Gateshead Council announced up to £60m in cuts as it faces similar budgetary problems.