UP to 300 Newport council jobs could be at risk as the local authority tries to make savings ahead of next year’s budget, a meeting was told yesterday.

Staff received letters telling them the possibility of job losses last week, it emerged at yesterday's Newport city council meeting.

The letter, from the council’s managing director Tracey Lee said the council was facing challenging times and was looking at the ways it delivers its services.

She said that as changes to services were made it was inevitable that the council would have to employ fewer people.

Speaking at yesterday's meeting, Labour leader Bob Bright said Mrs Lee told councillors that up to 300 jobs could be at risk at a budget briefing last week. There are currently 7,025 permanent jobs at the city council.

Cllr Bright said he was concerned about the potential cuts and was worried the council had not yet consulted with trade unions.

He said: “We are in a serious situation, morale is running at an all time low. Staff are deeply distressed and worried.”

The former council leader called for a review of all departments to see where savings could be made.

Council leader Matthew Evans said the authority was facing one of the toughest budgets it has ever seen, needing to save £9 million next year.

He said the figure of 300 may be a considerable over-estimate but the council needed to be realistic about the situation.

He said no decisions had been made yet and the council would carry out a full consultation with trade unions at a meeting in February.

He said: “Councils across the country are facing redundancies, nobody wants that but it is inevitable in the situation we face.”

He added the council would look to accept voluntary redundancies, would not fill vacant spaces and would find ways of retraining and redeploying staff where possible.

Councillor's call for day centre reprieve

NEWS of the potential cuts comes days after the Argus reported council proposals to close Lady Hill day centre in Alway and reduce its meals on wheels deliveries from two to one weekly visits.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting Cllr Ray Truman said Lady Hill was a first class facility and its closure would hit vulnerable people.

He also asked councillors to think again about proposals to axe hot meals on wheels deliveries.

He said: “You will be dammed by the vulnerable people of Newport.”

Council leader, Cllr Evans, said Lady Hill was not fit for purpose and the council was looking at ways to ensure that those who use the centre were provided for elsewhere.

He said the council was looking to change the way the meals on wheels service was run but said if he would welcome alternative savings suggestions.

He warned that the council could not go on living outside its means.