At least 230 more jobs could be cut as council seeks to save more than £100m

Leeds City Council says it will need to save £103.8m to deliver a balanced budget for the next financial year.

Issuing its final budget plans for 2025/26, the council has warned it is proposing a further reduction of 234.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) job posts in the next year, with the council currently having 3,545 fewer staff than it did in 2010/11.

In a statement, the council has said: “The council remains fully committed to consulting with trade unions to avoid, reduce and mitigate the needs for compulsory redundancies.

“However, given the size of the budget challenge for 2025/26 the council may find itself in a position where compulsory redundancies cannot be avoided.”

Leader of the council, Councillor James Lewis, said he welcomed news that the council would receive £67m worth of extra Government funding next year.

He added: “For the first time in 15 years the council has received additional Government funding that has allowed us to protect services for our most vulnerable residents, which will always be our top priority.

“I am also pleased to confirm our support to low-paid workers by continuing our commitment to paying all council employees at least the Real Living Wage rate.

Councillor James Lewis

“While significant ongoing challenges are still there to deliver over £100m of savings in a single year, we know that innovative new ways of delivering council services in a cost-effective way will give us the best chance of balancing our budget moving forward.

“For instance in adult social care our HomeFirst service helps more people safely continue living at home rather than going into care; and in children’s services we are increasing capacity in fostering and small group living homes which is beneficial to children and helps reduce spend on expensive private sector external residential placements.”

The council says it has been hit by rising costs, pressures and demand for services especially for children in care and adult social care.

Its budget includes an increase in council tax of 4.99 per cent, of which 1.99 per cent is dedicated to adult social care costs. For a band D property this means an increase of £86.29 for the year (£1.66 per week).

Leeds City Council notes 60 per cent of its 2025/26 budget is being spent on services for children and families, and adults and health.

Its final budget plans include changes or reviews of the following areas to help deliver the required savings:

– Review of transport services in adults and health
– Creation of new early intervention team to help older people remain living at home
– Review of children’s centres
– Review of transport services for children and families
– Leasing Middleton Leisure Centre to a third party to run
– Introduction of “pay as you feel” admission charges at Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Galley and Leeds Discovery Centre
– Adoption of a “pay as you feel” admission model at Kirkstall Abbey for Leeds residents
– Review of Leeds Cultural Investment Programme
– Review into possible reduction in number of community committees in Leeds
– Review of council’s print and sign functions

The final budget plans for 2025/26 will be considered by the council’s executive board on 12 February before going on to the annual budget debate and vote by the full council held on 26 February.

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