Up to 600 more jobs could be lost at a council as the authority battles to make a further 55 million in savings.
Up
to
600
more
jobs
could
be
lost
at
a
council
as
the
authority
battles
to
make
a
further
55
million
in
savings
.
Leeds City Council has already lost hundreds of posts due to reductions in Government funding and increased demand for its services.
Leeds
City
Council
has
already
lost
hundreds
of
posts
due
to
reductions
in
Government
funding
and
increased
demand
for
its
services
.
The 55 million savings are in addition to the 90 million of cuts the council had to make in 2011/12, the council said.
The
55
million
savings
are
in
addition
to
the
90
million
of
cuts
the
council
had
to
make
in
2011/12
,
the
council
said
.
The authority said rising adult social care costs, increased numbers of looked-after children, landfill tax bills, fuel and energy prices and inflation are the major budget pressures.
The
authority
said
rising
adult
social
care
costs
,
increased
numbers
of
looked-after
children
,
landfill
tax
bills
,
fuel
and
energy
prices
and
inflation
are
the
major
budget
pressures
.
So far job losses at the council have been on a voluntary basis.
So
far
job
losses
at
the
council
have
been
on
a
voluntary
basis
.
It is understood the council is looking at between 500 and 600 jobs being lost.
It
is
understood
the
council
is
looking
at
between
500
and
600
jobs
being
lost
.
Councilor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "The challenge we are facing is fierce.
Councilor
Keith
Wakefield
,
leader
of
Leeds
City
Council
,
said
:
``
The
challenge
we
are
facing
is
fierce
.
Government funding is being reduced at the same time that demand for services is rapidly increasing."
Government
funding
is
being
reduced
at
the
same
time
that
demand
for
services
is
rapidly
increasing
.
''
"We had nearly 30,000 referrals to children's services last year; we have an ageing population and a population with rising expectations of the care they will receive when they need it.
``
We
had
nearly
30,000
referrals
to
children
's
services
last
year
;
we
have
an
ageing
population
and
a
population
with
rising
expectations
of
the
care
they
will
receive
when
they
need
it
.
"We are continuing to first fund our elderly and our young people, but we also need to ensure we are securing investment and developing partnerships that will deliver jobs and homes.
``
We
are
continuing
to
first
fund
our
elderly
and
our
young
people
,
but
we
also
need
to
ensure
we
are
securing
investment
and
developing
partnerships
that
will
deliver
jobs
and
homes
.
Help is simply not going to come from the Government so it is important that we take action here in Leeds to make those ambitions a reality.
Help
is
simply
not
going
to
come
from
the
Government
so
it
is
important
that
we
take
action
here
in
Leeds
to
make
those
ambitions
a
reality
.
"The only way we will really find new ways to make the most of rapidly reducing funding is by changing the way we ourselves do business.
``
The
only
way
we
will
really
find
new
ways
to
make
the
most
of
rapidly
reducing
funding
is
by
changing
the
way
we
ourselves
do
business
.
"That is why this imdget places much more emphasis on working with our partners in the voluntary and private departments, as well as encouraging closer working between different council departments."
``
That
is
why
this
imdget
places
much
more
emphasis
on
working
with
our
partners
in
the
voluntary
and
private
departments
,
as
well
as
encouraging
closer
working
between
different
council
departments
.
''
While the 55 million savings are needed to balance the accounts for the year 2012/13, the council expects the need to save a further 43 million the following year, 2013/14.
While
the
55
million
savings
are
needed
to
balance
the
accounts
for
the
year
2012/13
,
the
council
expects
the
need
to
save
a
further
43
million
the
following
year
,
2013/14
.
Up to 600 more jobs could be lost at a council as the authority battles to make a further 55 million in savings.  Leeds City Council has already lost hundreds of posts due to reductions in Government funding and increased demand for its services. The 55 million savings are in addition to the 90 million of cuts the council had to make in 2011/12, the council said.  The authority said rising adult social care costs, increased numbers of looked-after children, landfill tax bills, fuel and energy prices and inflation are the major budget pressures.  So far job losses at the council have been on a voluntary basis. It is understood the council is looking at between 500 and 600 jobs being lost. Councilor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "The challenge we are facing is fierce. Government funding is being reduced at the same time that demand for services is rapidly increasing."  "We had nearly 30,000 referrals to children's services last year; we have an ageing population and a population with rising expectations of the care they will receive when they need it.  "We are continuing to first fund our elderly and our young people, but we also need to ensure we are securing investment and developing partnerships that will deliver jobs and homes. Help is simply not going to come from the Government so it is important that we take action here in Leeds to make those ambitions a reality.  "The only way we will really find new ways to make the most of rapidly reducing funding is by changing the way we ourselves do business. "That is why this imdget places much more emphasis on working with our partners in the voluntary and private departments, as well as encouraging closer working between different council departments."  While the 55 million savings are needed to balance the accounts for the year 2012/13, the council expects the need to save a further 43 million the following year, 2013/14.