Report 'backs critics of job cuts plan'

Selby District Council has voted to launch a major shake-up of the way it operates, relying on a small core of council staff with a number of its services contracted out through a new Service Delivery Vehicle (SDV).

It is feared more than 100 jobs could be lost through the changes, which Unison claim could be implemented as soon as May next year.

A Unison spokesman said: "It is uncanny the parallels between what we have maintained consistently and the findings of this independent report, which was commissioned by Unison but undertaken by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) – an independent organisation.

"This is not a viable solution to the problems faced by the council, APSE state this quite plainly."

Coun Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council, said: "This is a much more sustainable way of working in the long-term, compared to the alternative which is to lose jobs across all service areas regardless of the needs of our residents."

Meanwhile Calderdale Council is set to fulfil an election pledge by the Lib Dems and drastically reduce the number of people involved in Press and marketing activities.

According to a report seen by the Yorkshire Post the council will reduce the number of full-time posts from 18.45 to 11 helping to save 300,000 over the next three years.

No-one from Calderdale wanted to comment.