Staff facing redundancies as Redbridge Council publishes initial budget proposals
Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford town centre (photo: Arnaud Stephenson) - Credit: photo: Arnaud Stephenson
More than 140 potential redundancies have been identified by Redbridge Council in its initial budget proposals.
The cash-strapped council – which must save £70million over the next three years – has published the details of its initial suggestions to save money.
The proposals, which are due to go before the council’s cabinet next Monday (January 12), include looking at closing three smaller libraries and the mobile library service, and potentially selling off library buildings.
The report has also suggested restructuring children’s centres in the borough, changing the current 17 centres across 22 sites to eight “hub” centres with 11 “spokes” and two school-led centres.
The restructure would save £605,000 each year, but mean cutting 30 full time positions.
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The report also suggests making the council’s One Stop Shops appointment only, with services which are provided online no longer available at the sites.
The authority also wants to improve its council tax collection by 0.25 per cent – up to 98.5pc – by tracing debtors who have left the borough, providing a “significant financial benefit”.
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And the full report identifies 140 full-time posts for redundancy across departments including children’s services, finance and resources and HR.
The report said: “In finalising their proposals the cabinet has remained acutely aware of the pressures Redbridge residents are facing in the current economic climate and also of their expectations on the continued delivery of key frontline services. “In support of this cabinet’s spending proposals continue to sustain the existing freeze in council tax for a sixth year running, wherever possible protecting frontline services through the delivery of the majority of savings made within the back-office, through service transformation and further efficiency measures.”
If approved by the cabinet, these proposals will be presented to all relevant committees for consideration and feedback on all areas that fall within their respective remit.
