Council may have to shed more than 3,000 jobs

Wakefield Council still does not know what cutbacks it will have to make but at this stage indications suggest the Government could expect it to slash its budget by between 25 to 30 per cent over the next four years.

If this is the case it is feared it could be forced to shed around 3,000 staff. It currently employs about 13,000.

The impact of the cuts on Wakefield is expected to begin to emerge when Chancellor George Osborne unveils his emergency budget next week.

However it may be a few months before the true figure is known.

The authority last night said it was determined to protect essential front-line services where possible, but said job losses would be unavoidable.

Yesterday Wakefield Council Leader Peter Box said: "The latest indication is that the Government is expecting us to make budget savings of 25 to 30 per cent over the next four years and this will unavoidably affect jobs.

"As yet we do not know what the full impact will be but our priority will be to deliver our services as cost-effectively as possible and to protect essential front-line services where we can.

"Inevitably this will mean the council will not be employing the same number of people as it does now, with some services being delivered by other organisations with jobs transferring and other activities having to be cut.

"We are already on with preparing for these cuts and restructuring the council and our workforce," Coun Box added last night.