250 Jobs Set To Go As County Council Grapples With Cash Crisis

Leicestershire County Council has revealed around 250 jobs could be lost as it battles a cash crisis.

The authority has yet to confirm which departments will be affected, but says it hopes to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies over the next four years.

Budget plans were announced yesterday, which include service cuts totalling £4m and a rise in its share of Council Tax.

The Conservative-run council is the worst funded in the country and a campaign for more cash from government continues.

After MP’s met the Chancellor to ask for fairer funding, senior council officials will meet Jeremy Hunt in January.

Lee Breckon is Cabinet member for finance:

The Council says its financial plan is designed to protect public services and support vulnerable people during tough economic times.

It faces a budget gap which is set to rise to over £90m by 2026 and proposals to save money include dimming or reducing the time streetlights are on, reviewing of household waste and recycling sites and reducing grants providing through the Shire Grants scheme.

Opposition Lib Dem county councillor Simon Galton says something needs to be done to address the lack of funding from central government.