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Oldham Council plans 850 job cuts | Oldham Council plans 850 job cuts |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Up to 850 staff at Oldham Council face losing their jobs as the authority tries to tackle a budget deficit of more than £17m. | Up to 850 staff at Oldham Council face losing their jobs as the authority tries to tackle a budget deficit of more than £17m. |
Council leader Howard Sykes said it was "critical" that the authority found a way to save money, but added that the plans were still at an early stage. | Council leader Howard Sykes said it was "critical" that the authority found a way to save money, but added that the plans were still at an early stage. |
The Liberal Democrat-controlled council said it would try to minimise the need for any compulsory redundancies. | The Liberal Democrat-controlled council said it would try to minimise the need for any compulsory redundancies. |
The authority is Oldham's biggest employer with nearly 5,000 staff. | The authority is Oldham's biggest employer with nearly 5,000 staff. |
Councillors met with trade union representatives on Thursday to discuss the proposed cuts, which the authority said would not affect any schools. | Councillors met with trade union representatives on Thursday to discuss the proposed cuts, which the authority said would not affect any schools. |
Staff are expected to find out details of the cuts when they arrive at work on Friday. | Staff are expected to find out details of the cuts when they arrive at work on Friday. |
My reaction is shock Phil Woolas MP | |
Mr Sykes said: "The fact is that the council has to find £17.3m of savings to balance next year's budget. | Mr Sykes said: "The fact is that the council has to find £17.3m of savings to balance next year's budget. |
"Staffing costs, like those of a lot of other councils up and down the country, are a big part of our overall budget, so it is inevitable that we should explore the potential for savings in this area. | "Staffing costs, like those of a lot of other councils up and down the country, are a big part of our overall budget, so it is inevitable that we should explore the potential for savings in this area. |
"The proposed savings are critical in our efforts to provide the borough's residents with the value-for-money services they quite rightly expect." | "The proposed savings are critical in our efforts to provide the borough's residents with the value-for-money services they quite rightly expect." |
Phil Woolas, Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, is meeting with council bosses on Friday to discuss the proposals. | |
Rebranding | |
"My reaction is shock," he said. | |
"We had a very good settlement in the grants this year from the government, the best in the region, at 6%." | |
Mr Woolas said that he was unclear whether the jobs cuts were part of an "options paper" rather than specific cuts. | |
The Liberal Democrats took control of the council in April. | The Liberal Democrats took control of the council in April. |
Shortly afterwards a new £100,000 rebranding was announced with new visual identity - known as One Oldham - to replace the council's old seven squares symbol. | Shortly afterwards a new £100,000 rebranding was announced with new visual identity - known as One Oldham - to replace the council's old seven squares symbol. |