Bristol City Council to cut 300 jobs in a year

About 300 jobs will go at Bristol City Council as part of the local authority's plan to save £22m over the next financial year.

The savings are being made to cope with expected cuts in funding from central government.

Council leader Barbara Janke said the figures were not final, but showed "what direction we are taking".

The Liberal Democrat-led council aims to save a total of £50m over the next three years.

About 400 jobs have already gone at the council, mainly through freezing vacant posts and stopping use of agency and temporary staff.

The council predicts that of the 300 jobs to be lost, 180 will go by managing vacancies and 120 will go through voluntary redundancies.

'Selling' expertise

It also aims to save £1m by "driving a harder bargain" with external suppliers and contractors.

And it claims it can save a further £100,000 by reducing the number of people who become homeless, so saving the money it pays for them to be put up in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Other proposals focus on raising extra income.

It is anticipated that £44,000 can be raised next year by selling the council's expertise in operating CCTV operations to other councils.

"We have tried to ensure that front-line services are protected, in particular to young people who have been so hard hit by the recession and who are this city's future," Ms Janke said.

The savings of £22m are roughly 5% of the revenue budget which is almost £400m.

The council's budget will be finalised in December, after the government announces its Comprehensive Spending Review.