Massive bill as axe falls on Sandwell Council jobs

?Cash-strapped Sandwell Council is facing a multi-million pound bill for redundancy payouts, it emerged today.

Bosses have set aside a £4 million cash pot and have been given permission to borrow a further £5.7m from the Government.

The council has said 800 jobs could be at risk next year as it battles to save £75m over the next four years following budget cuts. It is now preparing to spend millions of pounds covering the cost of payouts to axed staff. The full costs of redundancies is not yet known as a definitive number of jobs losses has not been confirmed.