Redcar and Cleveland Council to cut up to 150 jobs

Up to 150 jobs will be lost at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council as it attempts to cut almost £19m from its budget between 2014 and 2017.

Councillors agreed a budget process on Tuesday to save £10m in the next financial year and a total of almost £19m by the end of 2017.

A spokesman said it was necessary to "redesign" services. Unison said vulnerable people would suffer.

A 45-day consultation with unions began on Monday.

The council employs almost 2,400 workers.

'Some will stop'

Redcar and Cleveland regional Unison officer, Duncan Rothwell, said: "The cuts are as a result of central government reducing funding for the council.

"We believe making savings of almost £20m will impact on the vulnerable - those in care and the elderly."

Up to 1,500 jobs will be lost at neighbouring Middlesbrough Council during the same period.

Councillor Norman Pickthall, Redcar and Cleveland Council's cabinet member for corporate resources, said: "We have already saved £32m and we have managed the cuts while sticking to our principles of remaining focused on our priorities of protecting the vulnerable and minimising job losses.

"We are now consulting on the next three years and by concentrating on key areas we have been able to redesign our services so that despite the cuts, they are sustainable.

"This will involve significant changes in how we do things and it will mean, however, that while some things will change, some will stop."