Westminster City Council has announced plans to cut 520 jobs, nearly 14 per cent of its 3,720-strong workforce, as it seeks to close a widening budget gap. Staff credited with making council services more accessible to residents are understood to be among those facing redundancy.
The Conservative-run council has not yet revealed where the cuts will fall, but employees from the former Communities Department, which focused on neighbourhood engagement and community support, are believed to be in the firing line. The department has already been broken up and absorbed into other parts of the organisation.
Budget pressures and savings
The job losses form part of a wider programme of savings after Westminster warned it faces losing £100 million in government funding over the next four years under changes to local government finance. Staff were informed of the plans at a meeting in City Hall on Tuesday led by chief executive Stuart Love.
The cuts are expected to save the council £29 million in 2026-27, with redundancies due to take place between April and December next year following a consultation process.
Opposition concerns
Labour opposition leader Ellie Ormsby said the proposals raised questions about the council's commitment to residents and community groups. “520 council jobs are at risk in Westminster, including roles that support our local communities,” she said. “The proposed cuts to the already disbanded Communities Department raise particular concerns about the council’s commitment to supporting residents, voluntary organisations and neighbourhoods across Westminster.”
The council insists frontline services will be protected. Councillor Paul Fisher, cabinet member for finance, said the focus would be on management roles rather than frontline posts. “Westminster needs to protect taxpayer money, become leaner and look to more commercial opportunities to generate revenue,” he said.
Union and council response
Unison described the plans as “deeply concerning”, warning that job losses could place further pressure on already stretched staff and services. A Westminster City Council spokesperson said work was still underway to determine where the cuts would be made and it was unable to comment further at this stage.
