Title

FINANCE

Thousands of council jobs at risk due to funding shortfall, union warns

Tens of thousands of council jobs could be lost unless the Government addresses the current funding shortfall, Unison has warned.

Tens of thousands of council jobs could be lost unless the Government addresses the current funding shortfall, Unison has warned.

The trade union has analysed the impact of the £10bn 'fundign gap' for 2020/21, which amounts to a 21% reduction in spending compared to the previous financial year.

It found that, if social care and public health were protected from funding cuts, every other council service would see cuts of 54%.

This could could lead to the loss of 51,000 children's social workers, 141,000 adult care workers and almost 46,000 refuse collectors, according to the research.

Unison head of local government, Jon Richards, said: 'Local authorities are the key to every community, with staff delivering vital services. Local government must have the money it needs, especially as demands on local services are likely to rise.

'The money pledged by ministers so far is a drop in the ocean. Councils need the full support of government if communities are to avoid serious harm.'

FINANCE

The local outcomes framework comes with risks

By Ian Miller | 17 February 2026

Ian Miller says the local outcomes framework is a tool to allow Whitehall to intervene and he is concerned it could be used in future to channel resources.

FINANCE

Plymouth powers up youth futures

By Cllr Jemima Laing | 16 February 2026

Cllr Jemima Laing says Plymouth is backing its young people and investing in the city’s future prosperity by spending more than £2.3m to transform three of i...

FINANCE

Finding 'ordinary' ways to build up local resilience

By Jim Savege | 16 February 2026

By mobilising community groups, councils are building proactive ways of responding to emergencies that are decentralised, flexible, and deeply rooted in loc...

FINANCE

Many district councils will see a cash cut

By James Hood | 16 February 2026

On average district councils face real terms funding reductions at a time of rising demand, and a long-term solution is still needed on flood protection, sa...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman