290 council jobs in peril

OLDHAM Council staff have been told up to 290 posts could be axed as the authority tries to save £31 million to balance the budget.

Workers were yesterday briefed on the jobs bombshell as council chiefs identified their initial options to save cash during “challenging financial times”.

The council says major reductions in funding from central government mean it has already had to make savings totalling around £100 million in the past four years, which have resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs.

For 2013-14 the council must save £17.7 million, which could mean the loss of 290 posts. There could be more, as another £13 million must be slashed from the budget for 2014-15.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance, human resources and strategic partnerships, said: “These are very challenging financial times and after five years of making significant savings our decisions get tougher and tougher.

“We provide around 700 services for residents that range, for example, from caring for vulnerable people to inspecting restaurant premises, and from adoption and fostering to libraries and waste collection.

“The measures we are outlining to staff are only proposals, at this stage. It is vital that all employees and trade unions continue to engage in this process in a constructive and realistic way – and the views of residents are also going to be integral in shaping the final options.”

The council is holding a Big Budget Conversation on Monday (22) at the Queen Elizabeth Hall for residents to air their views. The two sessions are from 12pm-1.30pm and 6.30pm-8pm.

You can also have your say via www.oldham.gov.uk/budget or on Twitter @OldhamCouncil using the hashtag: #OldhamBudget.