MORE than 350 council employees are working under a cloud of possible redundancy which is causing a damaging impact on staff morale, a councillor has warned.

Brighton and Hove City Council has confirmed that 360 staff are currently involved in consultancies about the future of their roles with 100 set for redundancy or redeployment.

Cllr Phelim MacCafferty warned the council was set to lose “years of accumulated knowledge” as experienced staff left the council while female employees were set to “face the brunt of cuts” as they form the majority of council jobs.

The Green group convenor also raised concerns about launching wide-scale redundancy consultations before the budget has been agreed at the end of this month.

Council officials said that the authority had to inform staff as soon as possible to ensure “early and meaningful consultation” while the process could be amended or withdrawn in the wake of any changes agreed at full council on February 25.

The number of full-time equivalent posts due to be discontinued in the next financial year is around 240 although council officials said because of leaving posts vacant and redeploying the number of staff, the numbers of redundancies will be lower.

It is hoped that voluntary redundancies will make “a very significant proportion” of any staff exits.

Cllr MacCafferty said: “I'm concerned to hear that as many as 360 council staff are currently the subject of redundancy consultations.

“What is worrying is that many of these consultations have begun prior to any budget being agreed through the formal democratic process.

“On the assumption that their sweeping cuts will be agreed, Labour are already telling staff they may have to go.

“I am worried about the damage to staff morale who are valiantly keeping services going, while many others are now jumping before they are pushed.

“Seven in ten staff have worked for the council for more than five years so cuts will see the council lose years’ worth of accumulated knowledge of the city.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “It is important that we consult with staff as soon as there is sufficient detail to do so in order to fulfil our obligations regarding early and meaningful consultation.

“If budget decisions were to change in the lead up to or at our budget council meeting on February 25, redundancy consultations would be either withdrawn or amended as appropriate and we would let our staff know.

“Another reason for starting redundancy consultations early is that a number of the budget proposals refer to full-year savings and this would not be achievable if we started consulting after the budget setting meeting.”