Westminster jobs cull could hit staff tasked with supporting local communities

Staff credited with making Westminster City Council services more accessible to residents are understood to be facing redundancy as the authority prepares to axe more than 500 posts.

The Conservative-run council this week announced plans to cut 520 of its 3,720 roles, nearly 14 per cent of its workforce, as it attempts to close a widening budget gap.

While the council has yet to reveal where the cuts will fall, employees from the former Communities Department are believed to be in the firing line.

The department, which focused on neighbourhood engagement and community support, has already been broken up and absorbed into other parts of the organisation.

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.

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.

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.