Another 430 jobs to go at Birmingham City Council

Union leaders said they had been left "stunned" today after being told that a council where jobs have already been cut is to axe a further 430 posts.

The GMB said the job losses will hit children's services and the Connexions careers service at Birmingham City Council under plans to make £6 million of savings.

GMB official Tony Hughes said: "These cuts will cause a severe detriment to the lives of children in Birmingham and will affect the most vulnerable young people."

Leonard Haye, a GMB officer at Birmingham Connexions, added: "These kind of cuts will directly affect the future of the city's young adults with nowhere to go to get help in making key decisions in relation to jobs and learning and with no access to quality career advice and guidance."

A city council spokesman said: "Following the Government's reduction of the Area Based Grant, the immediate impact of this for the Children, Young People and Families directorate is a potential loss of £6.1 million to be achieved by the end of November this year and a greater loss at the end of the financial year.

"The services which need to be reviewed as a result of this grant reduction are Connexions, Positive About Young People, Participation and Engagement, all based within the Integrated Youth Support Service.

"The Children's Commissioning Team, which is part funded by the grant, will also be reviewed.

"Therefore, the directorate has formally given notice of a 90-day consultation process on the future of these services and the employees concerned."