09.01.15
Blackpool Council to axe 300 more jobs as budget cuts bite
Blackpool Council is to cut 300 jobs “across the board” as it makes budget cuts of £40m over the next two years.
The council said that every service it provides will have to find savings but some areas, such as children’s social services and libraries, are to be protected.
Overall savings of £25.2m in 2015-16 and £19.7m in 2016-17 are needed.
Council leader Simon Blackburn said: “Local government is entering a period of uncharted territory. In the face of continuing cuts it is battling to adapt and in some cases completely revolutionise the services that it provides.
“Blackpool is no exception. The proposals that I’m presenting today could see services funded by partners, delivered by external agencies or cease entirely. There is no easy way of cutting £25m from our budget.
“This year has been the toughest yet. Hours and hours have been spent pouring over the accounts, analysing every pound that is spent.”
The authority is going to examine delivering housing, planning and adult services differently as well as reduce the budget for Visit Blackpool and review the operational costs for the Blackpool Illuminations.
Cllr Blackburn said that every effort will be made to work with partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors to minimise the impact of the cuts to services.
However there was still no alternative to cutting the 300 jobs.
He continued: “It is gut-wrenching to know that hundreds of staff have come to work today and will go home with an uncertain future through no fault of their own. I cannot imagine how they feel but they have my every sympathy, it must be a terribly upsetting time.
“Everyone will have their own views of how we could save this money and I want to hear them, this is a consultation period and now is the time to speak out.”
(Image: Blackpool Town Hall. Source: Rept0n1x)
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