Local services face cuts, the Local Government Association says
Up to 100,000 council jobs could be lost in England as a result of government spending cuts, the Local Government Association has said.
LGA chairman Baroness Eaton said “one in 10 of the workforce” would lose their jobs.
Some would go through voluntary redundancy and “natural wastage” but sackings were unavoidable, she added.
Chancellor George Osborne cut funding for local authorities by 7.1% from April in Wednesday’s spending review.
The Office for Budgetary Responsibility has estimated 500,000 public sector jobs could go over the next four years, as the chancellor cuts £81bn from public spending.
The LGA has suggested that about 20% of the lost jobs will be in local authorities.
Baroness Eaton dismissed suggestions that some councils would “go bust” but she added: “These cuts will hurt. We know this means there will be fewer libraries, more pot holes going unrepaired, parks shutting earlier and youth clubs closing.”
It also meant council workers would face redundancy, she said.
“Some jobs will go in natural wastage, not filling vacancies and voluntary redundancy. But there will be job losses where real people dedicated in their profession won’t be there any more.”
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