Leicestershire County Council to cut more than 600 posts in bid to save money
More than 600 posts are to go at Leicestershire County Council plus service cuts and price increases in a bid to save millions of pounds.
The Tory administration at County Hall revealed their planned budget for the next four years yesterday – and told staff that one in 10 posts would be axed.
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David Parsons, Leader of Leicestershire County Council, confirmed cuts would be made
Departments bearing the brunt include home care, school transport, museums and libraries and road maintenance.
Council leader Councillor David Parsons said cuts would be made but promised a three-year council tax freeze if Conservatives win the General Election.
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Of the 6,000 full-time positions at the council – excluding school staff – 650 will go.
On top of that, charges for home care will rise by 50% and people currently classed as needing care might not get it in the future.
Staff were informed of the level of the cuts yesterday.
Union leaders said they were "appalled" and opposition politicians said the "pain" of the cuts was being delayed until after the General Election.
Coun Parsons argued that £66m of savings had to be made in the next four years.
The figure is £4m less than the original £70m quoted but is still equivalent to one-fifth of the current net budget – excluding schools.
He said: "I think members of the public are more prepared for this than they've been in the past.
"They expect a rough time and we're trying to smooth off the rough edges."
He argued it was his role to "protect the vulnerable" in the county, and said a £10.3m cut in the adult social care budget would not penalise the most needy.
In the budget, people classed as "moderately" vulnerable could lose out on home care.
Coun Parsons said: "If you're not terribly vulnerable, we can't afford it."
He said he wants to minimise compulsory redundancies, although it is too early to say how many there would be.
Councillor Simon Galton, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats at County Hall, said: "The real pain of the £66m will not impact on the coming year and that's no doubt because there is an election due."
Councillor Max Hunt, leader of the Labour group, said: "We're all suffering through a recession so it's important to retain skilled and experienced staff."
Josie Nicholls, Unison's Leicestershire branch secretary said: "We're appalled at proposals to cut the council's budget by 20%.
"This will hit some of the most vulnerable people in our society."
About 70 per cent of the council's £325m net budget comes from council tax. Government grants make up the rest.
As part of their pledge prior to the 2009 elections, the county Conservatives promised a council tax freeze from April 2011 for three years – if their party win the General Election.
They claim if the Tories don't win the national election, council tax will rise.
A draft budget will be considered by Cabinet on Tuesday and a final decision will be made by the full council on February 24.
Leicester City Council will announce its budget proposals next month.
Labour council leader Councillor Ross Willmott has not confirmed what service cuts will take place.
Comments
by L, Leicester
Monday, January 24 2011, 4:00PM
“cutting school transport? MORE like increasing the prices from 65p one way to ONE POUND! you wants the more kids in, but cancelling the bus from braunstone to a school in b'leys isnt going to encourage children to go to school. they wikll skive off, clearly council workers are just apes being taught basic skills. i could od better one handedly.
maybe next time, youll spend your money wisely, instead of eating into your budget and ending up with DEBTS you cant get out of.”
by Taresa, Leicester
Wednesday, January 06 2010, 11:59AM
“The council are saying they are not cutting back on schools then why are they trying to close schools & disrupt our childrens education.”
by richard, china
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 3:21PM
“AK-- Haringey--Top Comments.Always the back room staff,that do all the donkey work,and get S---ite on.Bad management leads to these kind of issues.Also WAKE UP you non active council officers.STOP spending tax payers money ,on bus services,new bus stations,etc,that just needed to be up graded,not re-vamped,at a stupid cost.Don't cut cost,just direct the money in the right areas,”
by Phil J, Leicester
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:43PM
“2 years ago the council informed readers that it was to spend £364K on "quit smoking" programmes & extra staff-a complete waste of money and resources. Nearly £3/4m in 2 years for what? People will only give up if they truly want to as the governments own figures of a 98.4% failure rate for NRT have proven. Blair conned the people by brainwashing them with junk science, lies, fabrications % manipulated statistics to suit the enormously powerful Health Lobby-and it has virtually bankrupt this country. This of course is not to mention the closure of nearly 5,000 pubs, clubs & bingo halls-all of which provided revenue for this joke of a government.
The cuts are a necessary evil courtesy of 12 years of labour misrule.”
by Fred, Leics
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:36PM
“700 per day. That is cheap for Dolittle management consultant”
by Jim Reaper, Leicester
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:25PM
“this is just the start...”
by Frances, Leics
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:12PM
“This is what Labour do create too many jobs each one similar to another. Also the Councillors should divide the monies equally between all communities and not let just one have everything they need, we are all equal in this world, take note Councillors.”
by Wayne McDermott, Coalville
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:08PM
“Time to cut out the waste not services to the most vunerable people. Even when the country gets rid of labour i am afraid we are in for a bit of Camerons BLUE Labour which is looking no better if not worse. Having controlled Copunty Council for so long the Tories have nobody but themselves to blame”
by oldhenry, leicestershire
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 2:03PM
“No cuts in admin then, or the number of councillors to save 'expenses'. No way- cut the easy targets, libraries, museums, roads. First they should cut County Hall down to size, the place has been extended so many times in teh last ten to twenty years. No wonder they are broke. Think of the heating and maintenace bills.”
by martin, le3
Tuesday, January 05 2010, 1:45PM
“A little taste of life under a Tory government - it doesnt really matter who is to blame for what, the natural Tory instinct is to see job losses as necessary. It keeps wage calims down, because the employed are scared and provides opportunities for those with some capital.
anon - Barbados: nice try at satire, but 700 a day is too low!”