Trade unions have condemned plans by Bradford City Council to cut more than 400 jobs to save £13.6m. The local authority launched a 90-day consultation this week on plans to reduce the number of posts by 408 and cut the council's heads of service from 51 to 29. The GMB union condemned the move and claimed the council is also planning a further 188 job losses through the outsourcing of its IT department. ‘This is disgraceful,' said GMB convener Ray Alderman. ‘The GMB demands that the council withdraws its statement and enters into consultation and negotiation with the trade unions. ‘We will seek to have meaningful consultation with the local authority and trade unions to save these jobs.' But Bradford City Council's strategic director for corporate services, Becky Hellard, said they would be consulting fully with the unions over this issue. She said the council, which has a ‘good' CPA rating, was looking at efficiencies and improving services. Chief executive Tony Reeves added: ‘It is never easy to carry out a process like this, and it's vital we work closely with everyone affected. ‘We employ more than 21,000 staff, who work hard for the district, and we're mindful of the effect this process will have on them. ‘However, we must constantly analyse how the council spends its resources, pushing them where possible to the frontline. ‘This is vital if we are to stay in a sound financial position and continue to provide high-quality services.' An international delegation, including representatives from Brazil and the USA, visited local strategic partnership Bradford Vision last week. The visit was organised by the Institute of Development Studies and the delegates heard about the partnership's work in tackling social issues.
