One in ten council workers is at risk of losing their jobs over the next five years, according to a survey.
The study by BBC English Regions found that of the 49 councils that responded, they estimated about 25,000 jobs would go over the next three to five years out of a total combined workforce of 256,000, as local authorities struggled with falling incomes and a cut in budgets.
More than 1,000 posts could be at risk at eight authorities, including Leeds, City of Bradford, Sheffield and Surrey, the survey found.
Local Government Association chairman Dame Margaret Eaton said: “Sources of income have dropped sharply at a time when more and more people are turning to councils to help them through tough times.”
She added: “Up and down the country many councils feel they have to take the decision to cut jobs in response.”
The Department for Communities and Local Government said that cutting local authority jobs was “very much [a] local decision”.
John Denham, communities secretary, today published a report calling on councils to protect frontline services, the Telegraph reported. He said: “Councils have some tough choices in the next few years as things become tighter.
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“But that is no reason to lower their sights on service quality people rightly value. Government is working hard to make sure councils have explored every possible option before resorting to wholesale budget cuts that will affect frontline services and jobs.”
More than 70% of councils were predicting overall spending cuts of between 5% and 20% over the next three to five years, the BBC survey found.
