Job losses across the board are up for discussion at West Berkshire Council tonight (Thursday). Potential redundancy payments of more than £1m are on the table after a major restructuring exercise.
A number of proposals have already been subject to consultation with those affected, and unions are also being consulted.
Like many upper tier authorities, the council is facing significant financial challenges and will be asking Government for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) this evening to help plug a big funding shortfall. Neither the number of redundancies nor the amount likely to be sought in EFS has been made public.
There is also significant legislative and policy change affecting how councils operate, including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, plus devolution and local government reorganisation.
The council says several internal restructures have been consulted on to ensure it can deliver its statutory duties while prioritising front-line services. The restructures are expected to deliver annual savings of about £460,000.
In the past year, around 37 vacant posts have been deleted or are proposed for deletion to deliver savings of £1.64m.
Employees who are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) will automatically be paid their pension (with no reduction and no enhancement in the amount due) if they are aged 55 or over on the date that their employment ends due to redundancy.
There have been previous, unsuccessful, attempts by Government in respect of a statutory restriction on exit payments made to employees working in the public sector to a maximum value of £95,000. However, guidance issued by the Government in 2021 stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, it is still vital that exit payments deliver value for the taxpayer and employers should always consider whether exit payments are fair and proportionate.”
It is considered that the payments proposed meet the test of being fair and proportionate.
The Local Government Finance Settlement announced in December 2025 will leave West Berkshire Council among the most negatively impacted councils in the country. Under the proposals, the council’s Revenue Support Grant will fall from £27m to £16m in two years, and by 2029 the council’s core spending power will be £191m.
With inflation at around three per cent, costs for adult and children’s social care, waste services and debt repayments will consume almost all of that. The council says it will therefore require additional EFS to set a balanced budget, and any borrowing costs must be met from its revenue budgets.
Restructures have also taken place in several departments, including finance, property and procurement, and children’s services. These result in a number of posts being deleted and post holders being placed at risk of redundancy, although some new posts have been created which those at risk may apply for.
The council offers salary protection for 18 months to officers redeployed into roles at a lower grade than their existing post.
The decision on agreeing redundancy payouts is due at tonight’s executive committee.
Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter
