BRADFORD Council spent more than £1 million as it laid off dozens of employees in the last year, new figures show.

However, the amount Bradford spent on redundancy packages was about half of similar size councils.

The Local Government Association said councils across the country have been forced to reduce their workforce sizes due to budget cuts despite dramatic increases in the volume and range of services provided Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities figures show 76 people were laid off by Bradford Council in 2021-22 at an average of £14,440 per person.

It meant the council paid a total of £1,097,441 in exit packages last year – up from £483,571 in 2020-21.

But this was below the £2,080,198 paid out in 2019-20, before the coronavirus pandemic.

Bradford Council spent 79 per cent less on redundancy packages than in 2014-15 – when it let go 181 employees at a total cost of £5.2 million – despite exit payments typically being higher.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The increased pressure on local authorities throughout the country, due to rising need at the same time as escalating costs, is something most people are aware of, and Bradford Council is no exception.

“Compulsory redundancies are always the very last resort for any organisation, but as with any redundancy or other departure there is a legal and moral requirement to provide the appropriate payment package for each individual.

“The amount we have spent on redundancy packages is about half of the proportionate value spent by councils of a similar size to Bradford, based on national returns.”

Across England, the total amount spent on exit payments fell for the fifth-successive year, from £250 million in 2020-21 to £210 million last year.

The data also shows the average exit payment across England fell from £27,000 to £22,000 in the year to March.

However, more staff were laid off than the year before, 9,744 compared to 9,454.

Some 255 senior employees were laid off last year, accounting for a total exit payment of more than £20 million at an average of £85,000 each.

The 9,490 other staff made redundant received an average of £20,000 each in comparison.

Andrew Western, chairman of the LGA's resources board, said councils made layoffs to manage budgets and avoid further pressure on taxpayers.

He said: "More redundancies are likely, exacerbating the capacity crisis and impacting delivery of services to the public."

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