Westminster to cut 520 jobs in largest-ever staffing shake-up

Westminster City Council is to make 520 jobs redundant — around 14% of its 3,720-strong workforce — in a bid to save £29m, the largest staff cuts the central London borough has ever announced, the Local Government Chronicle reported.

Staff were told the news at a meeting at City Hall led by chief executive Stuart Love on Tuesday morning. The cuts will fall most heavily on senior posts, with affected staff expected to leave between April and December next year, and a formal consultation will follow.

Cabinet member for value for money Paul Fisher said: “While today’s announcement on job cuts is difficult, we believe setting the right course now will pay dividends in the years ahead.” He said the focus would be management roles rather than front-line posts, adding that greater use of technology such as AI and more commercial opportunities would help the council “become more efficient while maintaining the services residents value”.

The borough faces a £160m funding gap by 2029 after an unprecedented £100m drop in central government funding over the next three years under Labour’s Fair Funding Review. Councillors have warned that without cuts, council tax — currently the second lowest in the country — would need to rise by 200% to close the gap. Westminster is among five London boroughs facing the steepest funding cuts and mounting large council tax rises.