Oldham Council Faces Tough Times Cutting 120 Jobs to Balance Budget

Oldham Council approved £8 million in cuts. They need to balance their budget, and the council will work harder to maintain services as funding is shrinking and jobs are being cut.

These cuts will help fill a £14 million budget gap. The council has increased council tax by 4.99%, also raising charges on council services by 4.5%.

The council will cut 120 job roles, but eighty percent of these roles are already vacant, as they are trying to lessen the cuts’ effect on residents.

£4 million comes from adult social care reductions. They will limit services, using case-by-case assessments. Another £3 million comes from restructuring and job cuts.

Abdul Jabbar said no compulsory redundancies will occur. This protects the remaining twenty percent of employees.

Smaller changes will save the remaining million. They will shut off faulty floodlights at the athletics center, and school swimming pool rentals will increase in price. The council will manage parking internally, and they may charge for replacement recycling bins.

Government grants aided the council, totaling £27 million, though benefits from government support arrive later.

The council approved a 4.99% council tax increase. The lowest tax band will pay over £77 more a year, while the highest band will pay an extra £232 annually.

Jabbar stated that the council has to raise taxes because the government expects them to do so, and most councils are increasing their tax rates.

The full council will review the budget in March.