Over 100 could face axe as one of region’s biggest council cuts costs

Bradford Council leaders are looking at ways of reducing spending because of a potential reduction of £30m in next year’s budget.

The authority is understood to be looking at the possibility of axing non-statutory services such as economic development and youth services, and has not 
ruled out compulsory redundancies.

Yesterday a council spokeswoman said the authority could not comment in detail on possible job losses until it becomes clear what money it will receive from the Government. It will learn its settlement figure in mid December.

Council’s chief executive Tony Reeves said the funding gap in the next financial year is expected to be in the region of £30m, and added: “We are aware that a number of staff could be affected by reductions to this funding.”

Mr Reeves said unions had been kept informed and work was going on behind the scenes to see if the number of jobs being cut could be kept to a minimum.

He added: “We have already reduced the council’s workforce by around 1,400 posts over the last two years but we may have to further reduce the number of people we currently employ. Ninety five per cent of the reduction so far has been through natural turnover and voluntary redundancy.”