Coventry Council half-way towards redundancy target

[dutchman]

250 workers who want to leave Coventry Council have had letters accepted as the council looks to save £18.7 million this year.



Bosses say they’re still going through other responses as they look to find around 500 job cuts over the next 12 months.

100 managers’ posts are also set to go.

The Council says it wants to keep compulsory redundancies to a minimum, by accepting voluntary redundancies and transferring people into vacant posts.

More details have also been released about the level of cuts to government grants – with around £20 million being lost this year, including £200,000 from a scheme that provides short breaks for disabled children, and £2 million from education and learning services.

Instead of making cuts to road repairs, the amount being spent’s actually going up by £3 million.

£7 million is also being put aside to spruce up Broadgate and the city centre ahead of the Ricoh Arena hosting Olympic football next summer.

A week tomorrow councillors will decide whether to back around £10 million of savings identified as part of a review into departments.

Deputy Council Leader George Duggins said:

“Our budget proposals focus on making savings through efficiencies and transforming services as far as possible, but the scale of cuts to government funding means we have to be prepared to make painful decisions in order to support our most vulnerable residents and continue to provide vital services to the people who need them most.”

“We know, because we listen to our residents, that people want us to protect street services – road, street and pavement repairs, so we have identified funding to continue to repair our roads.”

“We’re also determined to seize the once in a lifetime opportunity we have when London 2012 comes to Coventry, and build on pride that Coventry people already have for their city.”

“Government cuts to services for children and young people could have a big impact on our youngsters, so we have found funding to continue vital services that we know make a difference to the lives of Coventry’s young people – services that the government is cutting.”

The budget report also includes plans to freeze council tax for this year.