Title

FINANCE

Council considers cutting 300 staff

Hundreds of staff at East Renfrewshire Council could be axed in an attempt to close a £26m funding gap.

Hundreds of staff at East Renfrewshire Council could be axed in an attempt to close a £26m funding gap.

Although the council has already found £37m of savings since 2012, it needs to find £26m more over the next three years.

One of East Renfrewshire's key proposals to save money is to axe 300 posts — a target the council hopes to achieve without compulsory redundancies.

Council leader, Tony Buchanan, said: ‘Millions of pounds worth of efficiencies achieved through more modern ways of working have already helped to offset the impact of the savings needed on frontline services to date.

‘However, with efficiencies already maximised in a range of areas, the scope left available to find more savings by efficiencies is limited.

‘We are therefore going to have to make tough decisions about where savings can come from during our forthcoming budget cycle.'

The Scottish council will launch a public consultation on Monday on its three-year budget to 2021.

FINANCE

Rewiring the state: The case for a 50 to state pension age labour market measure

By Ryan Heasman | 09 November 2026

A place-based approach could tackle some of the UK’s knottiest employment issues, writes Ryan Heasman.

FINANCE

Impact of ICB cuts leads councils to moot legal challenge

By Paul Marinko | 06 November 2026

Councils have been warned they may need to test the legalities of Integrated Care Board (ICBs) cuts as restructuring plans leave gaps for them to fill.

FINANCE

Changing places, not just boundaries: what's missing from the LGR announcement

By Adele Gritten | 02 November 2026

As the dust starts to settle following last week’s government announcement on reorganisation, Adele Gritten says better services, stronger places and sustain...

FINANCE

Councils and AI: The future is now

By Eddie Copeland | 29 October 2026

If councils want to make the most of AI they need to start thinking longer term, says Eddie Copeland.

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->