Workers for the city council have expressed concern and anger at plans to cut trade union support in an effort to plug a £30 million budget black hole.

Brighton and Hove City Council has said it plans to cut the time trade unions have to represent members by 25 per cent in order to cut costs.

However, the move has angered scores of Unison members, who have called on the Labour administration to reconsider the move.

A local branch spokeswoman said the plans, being voted on in a council meeting later today, will leave council workers with less help and support as they face potential redundancy, redeployment and increased workload.

She said: “These are incredibly challenging and distressing times to be working in local government and come on top of years of cuts and decline from national government.

“It is a testament to our members that they have continued in their vital roles as public servants, but we know that this has taken a considerable toll on them as they struggle to deliver to residents with ever-dwindling resources.

“On top of this, we now have the deeply concerning and unprecedented number of jobs that are at risk following the council’s proposals to address its budget deficit.

“Brighton and Hove Unison is shocked that as so many of its workforce face uncertainty and distress, the employer, led by a Labour administration, is proposing to cut union facilities time, a move that drastically reduces a key safety net and support for workers.”

Council leader Bella Sankey said the financial situation had forced the council to consider all options.

She said: “We’re facing the most difficult financial situation in the council’s history and are having to make cuts of £30 million to avoid bankruptcy.

“This has meant looking at every part of our budget, including the money spent on union representatives’ facilities and release time from their day-to-day jobs to carry out union activity.

“As a fair and inclusive council, we remain fully committed to working in partnership with our trade unions and the future arrangements will still mean each recognised union having three full-time roles alongside around 70 workplace representatives across the council.

“This will still ensure our valued staff continue to have access to union representation when they need it.”