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Up to 136 Bradford Council workers' jobs at risk (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
Posts and services could be hit by budget shortfall
7:00am Wednesday 21st November 2012 in News
By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter
Coun David Green
Up to 136 workers, including top directors, could lose their jobs in a new wave of cost-cutting as Bradford Council desperately tries to make a £30 million reduction in next year’s budget.
A document leaked to the Telegraph & Argus reveals that children’s services, finance, adult services, environment and sport and culture could all lose staff and have vacancies scrapped as part of a shake-up aimed at saving millions.
The proposed £30m budget reduction would be met by cutting £3 million from the staff budget, £13m from non-staff reductions and increasing income by £14m.
Proposals including closing three district cash offices, where people pay council tax and water bills, at Britannia House, Bradford, and Keighley and Shipley town halls, with the total loss in the finance department of 32 jobs.
And axing non-statutory services in the future such as economic development, youth services, and sport and leisure cannot be ruled out as the Council feels the full force of central Government cuts and changes to legislation.
A 90-day consultation with the unions began last week because of the sheer number of jobs under threat which could include compulsory redundancies and could affect services helping vulnerable adults, children and pensioners.
In adult services 22 members of staff already seeking voluntary redundancy, the majority of them social workers, have been deferred. That department is believed to have been ordered to save £7.34m, but it is hoped to make that saving through additional NHS funding.
The original overall saving was originally set at £23.4m but that was increased after changes including central Government halting council tax rises from two per cent to 2.5 per cent and changing the rules on business rates charged for empty buildings.
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green said that the full budget document would be released next week.
“We went to the unions because we needed to discuss with them, as laid down by law, potential redundancies, which is what we have done,” he said.
“The ludicrous thing, which just proves that there is no such thing as joined-up Government, is that we actually won’t know what our final Government settlement figures are until two weeks after we take our budget to the Executive on December 4.
“Inevitably front-line services are going to be affected next year and the year after because we are in a situation where the cuts being imposed on local Government are just not sustainable.”
Linda Crowther, Unison’s branch secretary who represents 6,000 Council staff, said that it was a “bitter pill” but worse was yet to come.
“Up to £50m of savings needs to be found in 2014/15 and the only way to achieve that is to stop doing something and that is the scary thing for us,” she said.
Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, the Liberal Democrat group leader on the Council, said: “The budget is going to be very challenging but the Labour group needs to make choices and is spending millions on painting and decorating.”
Conservative group leader, Councillor Glen Miller, said that it was sad when anyone lost their job, but he added: “We have got to realise the state the economy was left in by the previous government. It has caused everyone to tighten their belts.”
Comments(52)
Old Dave
says...
8:20am Wed 21 Nov 12
Get rid of these parasitic, absurdly highly paid roles and ensure that the cuts dont come from getting rid of people that we need!
If they do the decent thing - which they wont, because its much easier to get rid of a lower paid worker that makes a positive difference, than a highly paid office dweller, who earns 10x what those who make a real difference earn.
U8MyRabbit
says...
9:38am Wed 21 Nov 12
Good managers, organisers and excellent front line staff is what they need.
BertSanders
says...
9:52am Wed 21 Nov 12
loftyme
says...
10:05am Wed 21 Nov 12
angry bradfordian
says...
10:11am Wed 21 Nov 12
BertSanders wrote:I'd be really interested to see how big the council's workforce is now compared with say 20 years ago. It's difficult to understand why the services are much more threadbare when the funding is roughly the same (there should be a lot more Council Tax with all the house building) I can only imagine the council's budget is going towards artist's impression and injury claims instead.
The Council is getting back to its workable aize - it was built up during the Labour years to hide unemployment problems. It is tough for staff and those that use their services. " No more boom and bust" - Mr Brown declared!! I do think we should be seeing management redundancies too although they may be included in the numbers, but it would reassure those who believe we can go on as always.
CJones101
says...
10:37am Wed 21 Nov 12
Vital front line services to be axed ; to ensure the parasitic, over paid, robbing, useless scum at the top remain.
Old Dave
says...
10:41am Wed 21 Nov 12
In communities is a massive employer! It makes me wonder how private companies can turn a profit from providing services to local authorities, and that they would not be better running the services themselves for cost price!
Bert Sanders, every week (or more often) there are articles in the T&A about council services being poor because they are stretched. Be it grave digging, or street cleaning, sports grounds or dog wardens, or flood response. The problem is not the number of frontline, service providing jobs, its the ridiculous number of "senior managers" that is the problem. They get paid the most, and have the least impact! Then many of them (MacRuari being the main guilty party) take their salaries to their homes outside of Bradford MD and boost rival economies.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:50am Wed 21 Nov 12
vax2002
says...
10:56am Wed 21 Nov 12
Look at the figures, endless pots of money have been pumped in, with nothing but gold plated executive pay to show for it.
Of course they will sack the people that actually do the work first, they are not going to sack themselves are they ?
The result will be, nothing will get done, the whole apple will rot from the inside and those lining their pockets will have to be dragged out.
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
11:19am Wed 21 Nov 12
loftyme wrote:I think he has a look of Johnny Rotten about him, facially.
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
The Hoffster
says...
11:28am Wed 21 Nov 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:The poor man's version...
loftyme wrote:I think he has a look of Johnny Rotten about him, facially.
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
Another Landless Peasant
says...
11:29am Wed 21 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant
says...
11:31am Wed 21 Nov 12
BertSanders
says...
11:38am Wed 21 Nov 12
Old Dave
says...
11:46am Wed 21 Nov 12
It appears thios mans vision is as clouded by fog as was his namesake!
Typical party politics, blame the last lot! The majority of the British based bankers who caused this world recession are Tory voting, tax avoiding toffs, like Cameron and his cronies! They dont have to worry about earning a living wage as the live on inheritances from rich family members and accrued wealth.
The way forward for Bradford is to ensure that public servants are just that, people who serve the wider community. Too many councillors only serve a part of their community. much of our local political voting isnt based on ploicies, but what faith a person professes to belong to, what region / tribe their family originated from and how much they oppose the topic of the day such as wind farms, how they can impress the party office and get a parliamentary candidature etc... Nobody is looking at the whole, bigger picture which benefits Bradford as a (w)hole!
BertSanders
says...
11:47am Wed 21 Nov 12
yezboss
says...
12:10pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Huneybunch
says...
12:50pm Wed 21 Nov 12
BILLTILL
says...
1:01pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Old Dave wrote:Don't forget to add Stubbs to your list above !
Reeves, MacRuari, Milner, Weastell, Simpson - Come on in, your time is up. Non essential salaries for figurehead managers with layers of beurocracy that we pay for! Get rid of these parasitic, absurdly highly paid roles and ensure that the cuts dont come from getting rid of people that we need! If they do the decent thing - which they wont, because its much easier to get rid of a lower paid worker that makes a positive difference, than a highly paid office dweller, who earns 10x what those who make a real difference earn.
Also I can assure you that most of the highly paid management have been sitting around in their offices just waiting for an opportunity like this ,early retirement with a nice big pay off and very healthy pension !!!
Old Peculiar
says...
1:42pm Wed 21 Nov 12
The Hoffster wrote:I'm afraid I have to agree, any man who tries to make himself look more attractive, by wearing gold loop earings ; can never really be taken too seriously.
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:The poor man's version...loftyme wrote: Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!I think he has a look of Johnny Rotten about him, facially.
Reality001
says...
2:26pm Wed 21 Nov 12
yezboss wrote:Councillors work loads have increased because of the effects of this Governments policies.
I would expect Councillors to show the lead here, we don't really need them, just like we don't need them on the Police Authority now, just a MAYOR LIKE the PCC. That should save a few bob.
Not sure why your saying we dont need them, when more people are having to turn to them.
richard grant
says...
2:49pm Wed 21 Nov 12
THEY COULD FIND MONEY FOR THAT. ALSO OFFICE REFURBISHMENT.
Rambo
says...
3:09pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Reality001 wrote:It was reported on this site than there are at least 10 councillors on wages of over £100,000. Tony Reeves is the highest at around £200k (compare that to the Prime Minister taking home around £140k).
yezboss wrote:Councillors work loads have increased because of the effects of this Governments policies.
I would expect Councillors to show the lead here, we don't really need them, just like we don't need them on the Police Authority now, just a MAYOR LIKE the PCC. That should save a few bob.
Not sure why your saying we dont need them, when more people are having to turn to them.
And they have been known for giving themselves pay increases while having to enforce cuts and job losses.
The worst one of all is Barra MacRuari. The councillor in charge of 'regeneration', last I read he was on around £120k and has been in the position for several years. Do you genuinely think he has done an acceptable job to warrant such a massive salary?
I could see an argument to keep these people if they earned their money. But the fact is they are not.
Its unbelievable that in a city that has had so many problems in regards to employment, regeneration, businesses closing etc that. these people have such massive protected incomes and seem to do bugger all to justify it.
Super Hero
says...
3:12pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Reality001 wrote:reality 001, your talking as though you monitor what councillors do on a daily basis.
yezboss wrote:Councillors work loads have increased because of the effects of this Governments policies.
I would expect Councillors to show the lead here, we don't really need them, just like we don't need them on the Police Authority now, just a MAYOR LIKE the PCC. That should save a few bob.
Not sure why your saying we dont need them, when more people are having to turn to them.
How are you so sure more people are turning to councillors, unless you are one yourself of course.
Make some of the top jobs (ie 50k plus) half time, and get rid of the problem. You can guarantee it won't affect any services in any way.
samuels david
says...
3:45pm Wed 21 Nov 12
We precept ratepayers in Keighley still have a Town Council which has recently spent nearly two million pounds on a police station and which it is estimated to be losing over £2000 per week and rising.
We have an overpaid staff costing nearly £200000 per year and again rising, to look after a parish of approximately 37,000 people.
A blanket silence has been imposed on all information being released by Keighley Ton Council to its precept payers, unless we 'request' information under the Freedom of Information Act, which means that whilst we pay main rates to Bradford and can receive all and any information we require, all financial details of where Keighley Council spend our money is under wraps, such as why are KTC staff parking fines paid for out of the precept or why are our councillors allowed ‘training courses in London and seaside resorts such as Scarbough, or why was the two top staff allowed to spend a total of just over £2000 for a weekend at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff just to attend a 'conferance'.
The list of wasted money is beyond belief, in fact I have over 200 similar financial items which is to be revealed at the next local election and by revealing this and much more to the public, I am accused of being ‘disloyal’ to Keighley.
Out problem in Keighley is that too many of our parish councillors have only the backbone of jelly.
DAVID SAMUELS
billy8antam
says...
3:52pm Wed 21 Nov 12
loftyme wrote:Well said , he's a total embarrassment !!!
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
samuels david
says...
4:07pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Totally disgraceful and politically dishonourable.
David Samuels
Commonsensefirst
says...
5:02pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Typically cheap comment by Councillor Glen Miller (Conservative). He knows only too well that the global economy is responsible for the current down-turn.
Another Landless Peasant
says...
5:13pm Wed 21 Nov 12
yezboss
says...
5:14pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Reality001 wrote:You don't say if you agree they should take the lead and their numbers should be cut. Comment please.
yezboss wrote:Councillors work loads have increased because of the effects of this Governments policies.
I would expect Councillors to show the lead here, we don't really need them, just like we don't need them on the Police Authority now, just a MAYOR LIKE the PCC. That should save a few bob.
Not sure why your saying we dont need them, when more people are having to turn to them.
Another Landless Peasant
says...
5:16pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Fiery Jack
says...
5:40pm Wed 21 Nov 12
billy8antam wrote:I don't agree.
loftyme wrote:Well said , he's a total embarrassment !!!
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
These ear-rings look coolly piratical and distinctive.
Most local politicos look...you know...dull, dull, dull.
Good on Green for being insouciant enough to wear them.
You, meanwhile, are buttoned-up, orthodox goons.
thruth9211
says...
6:14pm Wed 21 Nov 12
allinittogether
says...
6:49pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Old Dave wrote:Hear Hear!
Conservative group leader, Councillor Glen Miller, said that it was sad when anyone lost their job, but he added: “We have got to realise the state the economy was left in by the previous government. It has caused everyone to tighten their belts.”
It appears thios mans vision is as clouded by fog as was his namesake!
Typical party politics, blame the last lot! The majority of the British based bankers who caused this world recession are Tory voting, tax avoiding toffs, like Cameron and his cronies! They dont have to worry about earning a living wage as the live on inheritances from rich family members and accrued wealth.
The way forward for Bradford is to ensure that public servants are just that, people who serve the wider community. Too many councillors only serve a part of their community. much of our local political voting isnt based on ploicies, but what faith a person professes to belong to, what region / tribe their family originated from and how much they oppose the topic of the day such as wind farms, how they can impress the party office and get a parliamentary candidature etc... Nobody is looking at the whole, bigger picture which benefits Bradford as a (w)hole!
The whole financial crisis was created by dubious business practices within the financial services of Wall Street and The City and yet the Tories worship these parasites whilst imposing swingeing cuts on everyone else.
Meanwhile their cronies in the press demonise the most vulnerable in society.
Despicable loathesome people!
huxley1
says...
7:42pm Wed 21 Nov 12
There are less people working directly for Bradford council now than at anytime since 1990.
Apollo
says...
7:47pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Mik_e
says...
8:03pm Wed 21 Nov 12
fabricator666
says...
8:23pm Wed 21 Nov 12
billy8antam wrote:i wouldn't let this man run a bath. In fact i wouldn't trust him or his ilk to be capable of sitting the correct way around on the toilet. Symptomatic of the problems Bradford will always have, Very poor quality politicians
loftyme wrote:Well said , he's a total embarrassment !!!
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
flogem
says...
8:28pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:Its quite obvious why you're a landless peasant.
Yet more people forced onto Benefits by the Tories, then they will be persecuted and harassed for being on Benefits! They expect everyone to work for nothing doing so-called 'voluntary' work to make up for the shortfall in our essential services. Forget it. I won't lift a finger. If a job needs doing, pay me a wage. Bradford is going to grind to a halt. The streets will be knee-deep in rubbish. The rats will take over. Crime will go through the roof. People will die of hypothermia and hunger. But the Tories don't care, thye will be ok with their vast fortunes of inherited wealth. Disgusting scumbags. IF YOU HAVE A JOB GET OUT ON STRIKE, OR YOU WON'T HAVE A JOB FOR MUCH LONGER !!!!!
Another Landless Peasant
says...
9:15pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant
says...
10:05pm Wed 21 Nov 12
OUTRAGEOUS LIES !!!
THE CUTS ARE IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN AND ARE ENTIRELY VINDICTIVE AND UNNECESSARY. THIS IS CLASS WAR.
Another Landless Peasant
says...
10:07pm Wed 21 Nov 12
ARE SAYING THAT COUNCIL BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY NEED NO MAINTAINING? DO YOU WANT TO PUT PAINTERS ON THE DOLE TOO?
Another Landless Peasant
says...
10:08pm Wed 21 Nov 12
Relish
says...
6:09am Thu 22 Nov 12
Fiery Jack wrote:Totally agree...Dave Green is a Labour politician who doesn't look like a *yawns* Tory
billy8antam wrote:I don't agree.
loftyme wrote:Well said , he's a total embarrassment !!!
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
These ear-rings look coolly piratical and distinctive.
Most local politicos look...you know...dull, dull, dull.
Good on Green for being insouciant enough to wear them.
You, meanwhile, are buttoned-up, orthodox goons.
flogem
says...
7:44am Thu 22 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:You have that serf mentality.
Really? Why's that then? oh, and you think you're not a landless peasant? LOL
Andy2010
says...
9:23am Sun 25 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:And of course Labour had nothing to do with this they
"Conservative group leader, Councillor Glen Miller, said that it was sad when anyone lost their job, but he added: “We have got to realise the state the economy was left in by the previous government. It has caused everyone to tighten their belts.”
OUTRAGEOUS LIES !!!
THE CUTS ARE IDEOLOGICALLY DRIVEN AND ARE ENTIRELY VINDICTIVE AND UNNECESSARY. THIS IS CLASS WAR.
1) Increasing the National Debt
2) Unregulated the city
3) Sold gold reserves
4) Ruined pensions
5) Illegal Wars
Need I go on?
The top and bottom of it is Labour / Tory whatever neither of them could make a difference when you start with nothing. At least the Tories are cutting the state benefit bill which was urgently needed.
Having first hand experience of seeing exactly how many "non jobs" exist in the council these cuts are welcomed by myself.
I'll await Another Landless Peasent's reply about "divide and rule" or how mean Atos are etc etc etc etc etc etc
Andy2010
says...
9:25am Sun 25 Nov 12
fabricator666 wrote:Only in Bradford could we have a leader that looks like he is a regular on Jeremy Kyle show or a Gypsy
billy8antam wrote:i wouldn't let this man run a bath. In fact i wouldn't trust him or his ilk to be capable of sitting the correct way around on the toilet. Symptomatic of the problems Bradford will always have, Very poor quality politicians
loftyme wrote:Well said , he's a total embarrassment !!!
Bradford Council leader Councillor Dave Green, what a fine example of a man he looks, wonder where he got his pair of gold loop earrings from, my Mrs needs some new ones!!
Take you pick
Another Landless Peasant
says...
5:04pm Mon 26 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant
says...
5:05pm Mon 26 Nov 12
flogem
says...
7:40pm Mon 26 Nov 12
Another Landless Peasant wrote:And thats your answer to the problem.
ALL COUNCIL WORKERS SHOULD GO ON STRIKE !!!
Andy2010
says...
12:50pm Tue 27 Nov 12
flogem wrote:Thats his answer to every problem
Another Landless Peasant wrote: ALL COUNCIL WORKERS SHOULD GO ON STRIKE !!!And thats your answer to the problem.
Typical Labour supporting drivel
Joedavid says...
7:42am Wed 21 Nov 12