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

Adult social care: Rolling up our sleeves on reform

By Phil Holmes | 11 November 2026

Writing in the week of this week's National Children and Adult Services Conference, Phil Holmes says it is time to meet the Prime Minister’s commitment to ad...

FINANCE

Children's services: Homes, not placements

By Sukriti Sen | 11 November 2026

Sukriti Sen explains how Coventry has kept children out of unregistered care.

FINANCE

Local government reorganisation is no silver bullet for councils or social care

By Nick Presmeg | 11 November 2026

As delegates head to the National Children and Adult Services conference, Nick Presmeg looks at how to make reorganisation work for local people and stresses...

FINANCE

Impact of ICB cuts leads councils to moot legal challenge

By Paul Marinko | 06 November 2026

Councils have been warned they may need to test the legalities of Integrated Care Board (ICBs) cuts as restructuring plans leave gaps for them to fill.

Popular articles by Laura Sharman

-->