We have written to the Lord Mayor today to urgently clarify what processes are being used to prepare for the 2005/2006 budget.  We have expressed our concern that the Expenditure Revenue Committee is acting like a razor gang and BCC must advise:

• which positions will be cut;
• how many people are in acting positions that will no longer exist;
• how many people will be forced back into substantive positions;
• what programme areas across all of Council are being reviewed;
• what programme areas across all of Councill will have funding cuts in the 2005/2006 budget;
• the role of the Expenditure Revenue Committee;
• BCC's position on freezing external advertising of all vacant positions in Bands 1-8.

We further stated that it is not acceptable for our members to wait 2 months to know about their job security as the budget is to be presented in early June.

BCC has been reminded of its obligations under EBA5 to consult and to abide by the no forced redundancies' policy.