400 jobs to be cut from council’s workforce as it seeks to make savings

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has approved its budget for 2025/26, which will see the council’s workforce cut by 400 posts over the next two years.

These cuts aim to save the authority up to £12m a year.

The budget will also see council tax bills in East Yorkshire rise by nearly 5% this year. The rise consists of 2.99% for general services and 2% for adult social services and is the highest increase allowed before needing a public vote.

Spending items include £21m for the Jocks Lodge road improvement scheme, £18m for the Howden Link Road and more than £12m for vehicle purchases.

Councillor Nigel Wilkinson, cabinet member for finance, said the reduction in workers would be achieved by “natural attrition, a reduction of management layers, redeployment and voluntary redundancies.”

He added: “This budget reflects our council’s health, strategic priorities and commitment to sustainable growth.

“We are proud to deliver a multitude of valuable and essential services to our residents and businesses, from caring for our most vulnerable and supporting schools, to maintaining highways, creating jobs and putting in place essential coastal and flood protection measures.

“East Riding of Yorkshire Council, like all councils, is facing significant financial challenges.

“To be able to balance our budget whilst continuing to provide services we need to increase council tax, whilst also delivering a transformation programme to reduce spending, alongside developing commercial opportunities.

“We will continue to be ambitious, bold and innovative, exploring new ways of working and delivering transformation in the year ahead and beyond. We will build a council that is resilient, adaptable and future proofed.”