Council invites unpaid leave to cut costs
Cherwell District Council has written to all its staff asking them to consider taking voluntary redundancy, unpaid leave or cutting their hours to cut council costs.
A letter has been sent to 534 staff and the unions are being consulted about ways of cutting the budget.
Chief executive Mary Harpley said the move was necessary to prepare for the expected cut in funding from next April.
She said: “Like all local authorities, we are facing some tough financial decisions in the future.
“In the past three years we have made significant structural changes in order to save taxpayer money.
“The current economic climate means public finances are likely to be squeezed even further than previously expected.
“We were already looking to save more than £2.6m by 2012 and diminishing Government funding is likely to increase this target.
“We hope that, by giving them an opportunity to let us know their plans in the coming years, we can protect staff and services from the effects of this and still avoid large tax hikes.”
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