Time runs out for 300 council jobs

Staff in education, community safety and at Barnsley Development Agency are among those whose salaries will no longer be paid.

The taps are set to be turned off following the completion of the Objective One redevelopment programme and the Single Regeneration Budget. At the same time the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) is being revised.

Barnsley will still be entitled to a share of NRF cash - but it will be December before the town will know how much it will receive and how it can be spent.

Council leader Steve Houghton said it was a sensitive time, but staff had always been aware their contracts were only guaranteed as long as the funding was in place.

He hoped alternative grants could be secured in order to preserve as many jobs as possible, he added.

“If the money comes through there shouldn’t be a problem in a lot of areas, but if it doesn’t then we will try our best to find them alternative employment either at the council or elsewhere.”

Barnsley Council is already trying to cut 10 million from its budget over the next three years. Savings of 6 million have been made in the last two.

Coun Houghton said the government has agreed to give needier authorities more cash but is topping them up bit by bit rather than handing out the full allowance.