600 jobs at risk in fresh council cuts; Leaders seek another pounds 30m of savings.

Byline: Dave Black 

AROUND 600 more posts are set to be axed at Northumberland County Council as embattled town hall bosses seek a further round of budget cuts of up to pounds 30m next year.

County leaders will meet later this month to examine a number of "financial scenarios" aimed at achieving the massive savings without having to slash front line services, bring in a big council tax hike or make large-scale compulsory redundancies.

Yesterday it emerged that the scale of the cuts required will mean between 400 and 600 posts being axed from the 8,500-strong workforce - on top of the 800 which were shed this year.

Higher charges for home and day care for elderly people, a review of care packages and branch library closures are being considered as part of the cost-cutting package.

Last night opposition councillors claimed other front line services will suffer from the savings, with leisure centres, public transport subsidy, highways and refuse collection also in line to be hit.

Conservative group leader Coun Peter Jackson said: "The worry we have got is that there will be a whole series of cuts which will affect communities and vulnerable people across Northumberland. "They are missing the big point, that there is a structural problem within the county council that needs to be addressed."

Liberal Democrat leaders of the unitary authority say spending on front line services will remain strong, with commitments of pounds 159m for schools, pounds 139m on adult care, pounds 70m on housing, pounds 18m on the fire and rescue service and pounds 35m on transport.

Current budget estimates are based on a council tax rise of 2% in 2010/11 - but the final target for savings could be anywhere between pounds 30m and pounds 20m.

County Hall bosses say efforts will be concentrated on shedding the estimated 400 to 600 posts through voluntary redundancies and redeployment, and focusing job losses on managerial, administrative and back office functions. Yesterday Coun Andrew Tebbutt, executive member for corporate resources, said no final decisions have been made about savings and a final budget will not be agreed until February.

"Like other councils in the region and across the whole country we're facing some unprecedented challenges. The financial situation in the UK means that local authorities must make savings.

"The options contained in the report to the executive will help us develop a budget that is committed to making savings while continuing to provide quality services for residents and keeping council tax down."

Mark Wilson, the GMB's officer for the county council, said the union feared further privatisation of services, cuts in services and the potential for compulsory redundancies. He said: "It will be a couple of months before we get down to the nitty gritty of what they are proposing.

"I can't see any way that the council can deliver the current level of services and find pounds 28m in budget savings."

Unison regional officer Tony Martin said: "If they are talking about another 400 to 600 posts going it is clearly a concern. Continually cutting back office functions will eventually hit front line services."

County council finance director Steven Mason said the pounds 30m savings figure represented a "worst case scenario" for planning purposes.

Yesterday Gateshead Council announced up to pounds 60m in cuts as it faces similar budgetary problems.

CAPTION(S):

TOUGH TIMES Higher charges for care and library cuts are being considered as part of a cost-cutting package.