City council warns it must cut 750 full time jobs from its workforce

Leeds City Council says it must reduce its workforce by up to 750 full-time equivalent posts by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.

As it fights to balance its books, the council has issued a formal Section 188 notice to consult with trade unions to avoid and mitigate the potential risk and consequences of compulsory redundancies.

The council says it will look to trim its headcount through natural turnover of staff together with flexible retirement and voluntary leavers schemes, with compulsory redundancies being a “last resort”.

In terms of its overall size, the council currently has around 3,500 fewer staff than it did in 2011.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of the council, said: “After responding to austerity for the last 13 years we have now reached the stage where we need to look at every option no matter how unpalatable, which sadly includes the possibility of compulsory redundancies as well as building closures, asset sales and stopping or reducing some council services which will no doubt have an impact.”

Despite setting a balanced budget in February, the council says it is facing extra in-year pressures leading to an overspend of £29.6m for the current financial year.

It adds a need for further savings continues on for the next three years with an estimated funding gap of £162.8m up to the end of March 2027, with £59.2m of that relating to the next financial year for 2024/25.

Leeds City Council says it will be making further savings by disposing of more of its properties.

On average, around 10 council buildings per year are released and as part of this process a further four are now being earmarked for potential closure by the end of the year due to having low occupancy levels and increasing maintenance costs.

These are at Adams Court, 15 Lavender Walk, Broomhill Family Centre and Foxcroft Close. As a result of these proposed closures, staff impacted and the services they provide will be relocated.

Additional rationalisation being considered is the sale of four more assets owned by the council and currently leased out to operators. These are Swinegate Car Park, Harper Street Car Park, St George House and 2180 Century Way at Thorpe Park.

Cllr Lewis said: “Given the scale of the funding shortfall we will be looking at every building in the council estate from the Civic Hall to local community facilities, to identify what can be disposed of while still providing services to the public.

“All areas of the council are doing everything possible to mitigate that impact with a focus on continuing to provide frontline and essential services that people rely on in every community and support our most vulnerable residents, but it’s clear as with councils all over the country we cannot meet these financial challenges alone.

“The Government needs to address this crisis in local government finance as a matter of urgency now.”

The council’s latest cost cutting proposals will be discussed at an executive board meeting in Leeds Civic Hall on 18 October.