Hundreds of job losses across Exeter will have a knock-on effect on services across the city, councillors have been warned.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter have both announced major redundancy programmes which they say are being driven by budget issues.
The NHS trust says it needs to save around £80million this year just to break even, and says it aims to cut up to 400 staff across Exeter, East Devon and North Devon. It has been reported that more than 500 health workers have applied for voluntary redundancy.
At the university there are plans to cut around 150 academic roles, placing more than 500 staff at risk.
Most of the positions at risk are within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the reasons given include rising costs, a decline in income from tuition fees and a drop in international student demand.
The Exeter branch of the University and College Union has declared a trade dispute and passed a vote of no confidence in senior management. The union, which represents academics, lecturers and researchers, has also threatened strike action.
Leading writers and broadcasters are among people to have backed the campaign to save jobs at the university, and more than 21,000 people have signed a petition against the proposed redundancies.
The prospect of widespread job losses across the city prompted two motions to be put forward at a full meeting of Exeter City Council.
Liberal Democrat councillors said they were responding to growing concerns from local people around institutions that play a vital role in the life of the city as major employers, providers of essential services and centres of excellence in healthcare and higher education.
The Lib Dem motion called for ‘clear and constructive dialogue with both organisations and meaningful consultation to ensure the voices of key stakeholders including students, staff, and health service partners are properly heard.
Cllr Michael Mitchell (Lib Dem, Duryard and St James) proposed the motion, which was passed. He said: “It was about ensuring that Exeter residents, staff and students are properly supported during a period of uncertainty. I’m pleased that councillors recognised the importance of constructive dialogue with both institutions so that any changes are handled transparently and with the community’s interests at heart.”
Cllr Tammy Palmer (Lib Dem, Duryard and St James) added: “These proposed changes will affect livelihoods, services and the wider community. By passing this motion, the council has sent a clear message that we expect meaningful consultation and open communication from both organisations. Our priority is to stand with residents and ensure their concerns are listened to.”
However, a Green Party motion calling on the council’s leadership to report on the potential economic implications of the job cuts was not supported.
Cllr Bernadette Chelvanayagam (Green, Newton and St Leonards) said afterwards: “This motion was asking us to act with care, to ask responsible questions, and to make sure the risks facing Exeter are named rather than ignored.
“The risks and changes are real. There is a risk to jobs and household security; a risk to NHS and university capacity; a risk to local businesses that depend on staff, students, patients and visitors; a risk to housing stability and a risk that Exeter loses skills and experience that cannot easily be rebuilt.
“Naming possible risks is essential, and not an attack on any institution. It is an act of care – care for staff, care for families, care for public services, care for our local economy, and care for the future our young people will inherit.”
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