Leader: Job cuts

The council is to press ahead with the controversial pay modernisation it needs to bring in to comply with the law. And there's further doubt for hundreds who are to be balloted over an end to their work-to-rule.

Both these developments have serious pay implications for many staff – but they pale into insignificance compared to today's announcement by Tom Aitchison.

The council's soon-to-retire chief executive is looking to cut the workforce by around 1,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff. That's 12 per cent of the total number of FTEs – and that means looming misery for families across the city.

But the brutal fact is that the council has little choice other than to go down this road. It is already facing a 90m gap in its funding.

And with the Tory-Lib Dem coalition at Westminster looking at the Barnett Formula and the SNP at Holyrood pushing for a fourth annual council tax freeze, the city's finances are sure to get even worse.

In fact, even the drastic job cuts being proposed by Mr Aitchison are unlikely to fill the budget black hole, which means other tough decisions will follow on what services the council should provide in future.

This will be bitter medicine for a public sector which became swollen in the good times. More people will have to look to the private sector for work, while we'll all have to get used to the council doing less for us. Maybe, in the scheme of things, both will do us good in the long-term.

Green lane fines

SOME might be tempted to link the council's budget problems with the plan to use cameras to fine drivers who stray on to the city's green lanes.

But those hit by the 60 fines can't be used as cash cows. Like speed camera penalties, the money is ring-fenced for transport improvements.

So most drivers will probably grudgingly accept this attempt to nab the selfish minority who break the rules to skip traffic queues.

However, too many of the bus lanes are empty for too long, forcing law-abiding car drivers to queue in single lanes, while their exhaust fumes make a mockery of claims that this makes the city greener.

So the authorities should offer something in exchange for cameras – a review of the number of lanes and the excessive hours they operate.