Doncaster Council housing firm plans to axe 100 jobs

A housing firm responsible for managing Doncaster's council homes is planning to axe 100 jobs as a result of government spending cuts.

Staff at St Leger Homes have been asked to consider either voluntary early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

The organisation said it did not know the extent of budget cuts yet but was planning to shed about 100 posts.

Chief Executive Susan Jordan said: "It is with regret we are having to plan for this."

Ms Jordan said the firm faced losing £2m from next year's budget.

'Protecting services'

She added that the 740-strong workforce had been told about the reduced budget implications and managers were working with trade unions.

"As I have said to my staff, I am committed to protecting services and safeguarding jobs as far as possible," said Ms Jordan.

"However, the level of cuts we anticipate mean that we are having to ask staff to consider voluntary redundancy or early retirement."

John Young, chair of the board at St Leger Homes, said: "The offer to take voluntary early retirement and voluntary redundancy has been approved by the board with great reluctance and after all other alternative cost reduction measures have been fully investigated."

Councillor Patrick Wilson, cabinet member for housing for Doncaster Council, said: "I want to reassure the public that St Leger Homes and Doncaster Council remain committed to providing excellent housing service in the borough."