Council defends axing staff jobs

The cuts are needed to help counter a £2.5m budget gap

The leader of Amber Valley Borough Council has defended a decision to cut up to 80 jobs at the authority.

Sports and arts development and tourism services will be affected in a move to deal with a £2.5m budget gap.

Stuart Bradford said "the situation has not actually been clarified but there's bound to be some changes".

The council will reveal the final details of the staff cuts by Christmas, with some positions expected to go through voluntary redundancy.

In the past Amber Valley Borough Council blamed the deficit on government funding increases not being in line with inflation.

It also said the free bus pass scheme had had an impact on its budget.

The council said the 80 job cuts included 28 posts that were currently vacant and would not be filled.

'Tough decisions'

Council leader Stuart Bradford said: "There are no realities yet... but until that's actually worked out by the council officers as to what this new structure demands in terms of skills and competencies, we don't know what the outcomes will be.

"Services won't be slashed, that's just not the case. They will be looked at and delivered in slightly different ways.

"We are having to make some tough decisions, but our focus throughout this process will be to ensure that we maintain delivery of key services for the residents of Amber Valley, while keeping council tax low," he added.

Denise Gould from Unison said industrial action had not been ruled out.

"We will continue to campaign strenuously in order to get the members to relook at the proposals put forward," she said.

The council has offices in Alfreton, Heanor, Belper and Ripley and has a workforce of about 386 staff.