Aberdeen to cut 150 posts in attempt to save £127m

CASH-strapped Aberdeen City Council is to axe up to 150 jobs as part of a five-year business plan to cut the authority’s budget by £127 million.

A spokesman for the local authority said compulsory redundancies could not be ruled out.

However, council leader Callum McCaig said: “City council officers are clearly prepared for every eventuality, and the contingency of not ruling out compulsory redundancies was one which they felt needed to be made. However, I am positive that reductions in the workforce will be made without any compulsory redundancies.”

Council chief executive Valerie Watts said: “We must face up together to the realities of the very difficult economic climate and the extremely tight financial settlements we will be receiving for the foreseeable future.”

Unions have reacted angrily to the announcement. Karen Davidson, the Unison branch secretary, said: “We are obviously disappointed there is going to be further job losses.

“Morale is still very low at the council. There are some people who are desperate to go and some might be delighted to hear there are to be 150 job losses.”

A spokesperson for the First Minister, Alex Salmond, said: “Officials set out options and councillors decide. The leader of Aberdeen City Council has reiterated that there will be no compulsory redundancies”.