Kent County Council: Hundreds face redundancy at cash-strapped council

Groups commissioned by KCC to run youth and community services may have to find other ways of funding their activities

Hundreds of jobs at cash-strapped Kent County Council (KCC) are at risk of redundancy as the authority seeks urgent savings.

According to papers seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), 208 posts are set to be axed.

The losses will affect those working in the open access teams in the children, young people and education directorate.

Many youth services are being scaled back to accommodate the new government's family hubs.

A 45-day consultation period on the plans ends on 22 February.

The new family hub scheme was championed by Andrea Leadsom MP and KCC was one of 75 councils to be identified as in need and invited to apply for grant funding.

But as a result, groups commissioned by KCC to run youth and community services may have to find other ways of funding their activities.

Critics say there will be a loss of valuable community assets with young people being driven into drug gangs or criminality or suffering mental health issues.

The KCC document said family hubs were a "positive example of integration, innovation and transformation".

KCC refused to comment on specific numbers of redundancies but said a move to the family hub model would save £7m.

A council statement said: "As part of transforming services to ensure we keep supporting Kent's families in the best way, at the right time, we are currently consulting with open access teams in our children, young people and education directorate on staffing changes.

"Re-shaping how, and where, we work in the face of rising costs and stretched budgets will help KCC save over £7m."

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