Cambridgeshire County Council to axe 450 jobs in cuts

Hundreds of council workers are set to lose their jobs at Cambridgeshire County Council in a bid to save £160m over the next five years.

The local authority has made the proposal following cuts in its budget as a result of the government's Spending Review.

It said 450 jobs will be axed, with that figure likely to rise in the next two to three years.

It will prioritise services to help the most vulnerable, a spokesman added.

John Reynolds, cabinet member for resources and performance, said: "This is the toughest budget we have ever faced.

"The council will either not be delivering some of the services it does now, or they will be delivered in a very different way."

'Tough challenge'

Residents will be asked to help shape the budget through a survey, which the council claims puts the public in the position of a councillor.

The questionnaire, to be put to 250 people face to face and also available from the council website, asks what should be saved from a selection of services.

The council said it will also look to devolve decision making, commissioning and running some services to local level, which could impact on public transport.

Mr Reynolds added: "Cambridgeshire is already a lean authority which makes finding savings a tough challenge.

"We hope residents will take part in the consultation and tell us what they want prioritised."

Final budget proposals will be put to the cabinet in January 2011, before being agreed in February.