300 council jobs may go in bid to save £90m in Edinburgh

Council leaders in Scotland’s capital are considering axing 300 jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive, it has been revealed.

The move by Edinburgh City Council comes as local authorities across the country slash services and jobs – affecting education, social work, library services and road repairs – in a bid to save Scotland £300 million.

Edinburgh is to look at reducing management costs and increasing efficiencies. It said that, if approved, its plans would save about £16m over the next three years, with this being a first step towards a cost-cutting target of £90m.

About 300 jobs are expected to go, including management posts, with all departments potentially affected.

While staff numbers will be reduced through voluntary redundancy, early retirement and leaving vacant posts unfilled, the council said that compulsory redundancies could not be ruled out.

A consultation process is under way with unions, and workers are being briefed on the proposals.

LibDem council leader Jenny Dawe said: “The harsh reality of the UK budget deficit requires us to confront some very difficult decisions.

“These recommendations highlight the scale and severity of the challenge.

“We recognise just how concerning this is for staff and we will critically examine the proposals received from directors.

“We will do all we can to support staff and to protect the valued and vital services they deliver for the people of Edinburgh.”

Councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting scheduled for September 16.

Further savings proposals are also being developed, which will be the subject of full public engagement during September and October before being considered by councillors.

On Monday, The Herald reported that Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson had written to Finance Secretary John Swinney urging him to scrap the Scottish Government’s freeze on council tax.

He said it was not sustainable as councils contemplate huge cuts to services over the next two years.

The local authority is preparing for £180m of savings in the same period.

Inverclyde chief executive John Mundell recently claimed his council would examine its workforce in its attempts to bridge a £23m funding gap.

Fife Council said about 1800 jobs would be shed in the current financial year as its budget is being cut by some £120m over the next four years. It said the job losses would come in a programme of efficiencies.

Aberdeen City Council needs to make about £26m of savings, while Dumfries and Galloway has to save £21.8m for next year alone.

Last year North Ayrshire Council said up to 800 jobs could go, and that schools will close, as it aimed to slash spending by more than £40m a year over the next three years.

South Ayrshire is facing a £56m funding shortfall over the same period.

Argyll and Bute is seeking voluntary redundancies to help meet a 15% savings target while Renfrewshire Council has warned that 700 jobs could go by March 2011, one-tenth of its non-teaching workforce.

East Dunbartonshire has outlined deficits of more than £30m that need to be bridged over the next three years, and has said job cuts are needed.

North Lanarkshire Council has identified £15m of savings it needs to make.

South Lanarkshire Council is facing a £17.5m shortfall, while East Renfrewshire plans to shed about 200 posts.