Scores of jobs lost to cut council costs

Scores of jobs have been shed at cash-strapped councils in the Black Country and South Staffordshire in the last four months, figures show - amid warnings of widespread losses to come.

Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Cannock authorities have all seen their workforce reduced as major cost-cutting measures kick in.

The number of full-time posts across the four has shrunk by 79 in little over four months, from the beginning of the financial year back in April.

In Wolverhampton, 64 members of staff left the council as part of a redundancy scheme which launched in November and closed in June.

Most of the full-time equivalent roles went at Sandwell and Dudley councils, where finance chiefs are bracing themselves for hefty drops in funding.

Sandwell saw a fall of 35 jobs, from 10,711 to 10,676 today.

The borough's cabinet member for improvement and efficiency, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said: "The council has to make savings in the years to come and this will have an impact on jobs.

"We will see the impact early next year. We will be aiming to use voluntary redundancies and natural wastage but we haven't ruled out compulsory redundancies."

In Dudley, the number of staff at the council has gone from 10,429 at the beginning of April to 10,396 now - a decrease of 33.

But council spokesman Phil Parker warned the full impact of cuts would not be seen until October.

"In August 2009 Dudley Council introduced a recruitment review to protect frontline services and minimise the risk of redundancies in the future," he said.

"Under the review, proposed new jobs, filling of vacant posts and internal promotions in any support service, requires approval through appropriate directors and cabinet members.

"Until the government has published its pending review in October,we are unable to say what additional level of savings councils may need to find."