Council set to axe another 900 jobs

Up to 900 full-time posts are set to be axed at a city council less than two years after 2,000 jobs were cut.

Manchester City Council said it planned to open a voluntary severance scheme for staff ahead of spending cuts expected to be announced by the Government later this month.

Council chiefs are predicting its funding will be reduced by about £80m over the next two years. Their leader, Sir Richard Leese, said: “This is a very difficult time for council staff and, indeed, Manchester residents. We have already seen staff levels reduced by more than 2,000 over the past two years after the Government imposed £109m of cuts last year, rising to £170m this year.”

The council said this year’s spending reduction was one of the five worst settlements in the country.