Liverpool council to cut 400 fewer jobs than first feared

AROUND 400 fewer jobs will be axed by Liverpool council than first feared.

New chief executive Ged Fitzgerald yesterday revealed about 1,100 posts were now expected to be lost.

Liverpool-born Mr Fitzgerald, who started his new role on February 7 after leaving Lancashire county council, also pledged only a “very, very small number” would be compulsory.

When the council announced £91m cuts earlier this year, it said 1,500 jobs were at risk.

But Mr Fitzgerald said that had now been revised.

He said: “The figure now is probably about 1,000 to 1,100 tops. We are trying everything through voluntary severance.”

He added: “The 1,500 number came from a finger-in-the-air exercise and with some reference to Manchester.”

Manchester council had warned public sector cuts imposed by the government could cost 2,000 jobs.

Mr Fitzgerald said Liverpool was vulnerable to cuts because about 40% of its economy is dependent on the public sector.

The government insists growth in the private sector can more than make up for council job cuts, but Mr Fitzgerald said: “It worries me about where we are going to be able to grow the jobs in the private sector.

“You cannot take £91m out of a controllable budget worth about £400m.

“I am disappointed by the failure of the government to understand how that can happen.”

From: Liver Pool Echo