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Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson has admitted that job losses and service cuts are inevitable as he prepares to slash a further £90m from the city budget over the next three years.
The latest cuts in Government grants are on top of about £70m already been cut from the council budget over the past three years. The latest figure equates to about a quarter of the entire annual spend. 
Some 8,000 people work for the authority and in a hard-hitting statement Mr Ferguson warned the cuts would “affect both the public and our staff, with council job losses unavoidable”.
A full set of proposals will be released for a six-week public consultation next month, detailing how, where and when savings are to be made.
Mr Ferguson: “This will be a difficult budget, but I have to balance the books in the face of tremendous pressures from the falling Government grant, coupled with increased demand for some services. We’re looking at losing a quarter of our current budget: this will mean cutting deep and to a certain extent re-defining the role of local government.
“I am working hard with my Cabinet to protect the most vulnerable in the city and to find as many of the savings as we can by working in ever more cost effective ways. We cannot afford to drag this out. Cuts will have to be fast and deep if we are to get in to recovery.
“It will, I’m afraid, affect both the public and our staff, with council job losses unavoidable. However I’ll also remain open to bold new ideas and investing our money when it has a clear benefit and return for the city in terms of economic growth, jobs or improving people’s wellbeing.
“I am working on detailed proposals and will publish them in November, along with my vision for the city to 2016 and beyond and how the budget will help us achieve it. I want to be clear about the options and there will be several weeks to listen and to make any changes before councillors debate the budget next February. Although times are tough, I’m optimistic about Bristol’s prospects and am confident that Bristol has a bright future ahead.”
The precise date for the launch of the budget consultation will be confirmed soon, a council spokesman said.
