Council to make £50m cuts

Sheffield City Council has announced it is facing greater cuts from Government than originally anticipated.

The local authority had been prepared for making cuts worth £40m in 2013/14, but now expects to have a further £10m less to spend on services. The additional cuts are being put down to energy bills, rising prices and increasing demand for services.

Unions, though, say this could mean up 700 jobs are put at risk as the council looks to make savings.

The Council has already cut costs saved £6m a year on IT by using an outside contractor, a further £1m could be reduced from directors' pay bill as part of a proposed restructure which is currently out to consultation with staff affected and saving £12m this year and a further £50m over the life of the of Streets Ahead scheme to improve and maintain the city's roads by reorganising how it is financed to save money.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles