Connexions axed in council cuts

Central Bedfordshire Council has confirmed that the existing service is to be axed, and will be replaced by a smaller organisation which will perform similar duties.

Rumours had been circulating about the future of Connexions since October.

Central Beds Council portfolio holder for children’s services Anita Lewis said the move – which will see employees who remain at the end of the current consultation process working with others based in children’s services – had been difficult to make.

She said: “It is clearly regrettable that we will have to streamline our careers advisory services so radically, but in these tough economic times we have little option but to do so.

“We hope to be able to retain as much of the expertise and skills of our staff as possible, in order to creatively develop new ways of delivering these important services to young people, but do accept that significant redundancies may be unavoidable.”

The plans follow the removal of the Area Based Grant from central government that the council was using to fund the service.

This required the council to take action, and Connexions employees have been involved in a 90-day consultation process that is expected to conclude at the end of this month.

The new team will continue to provide information, advice and guidance on careers issues and will explore how local provision for young people can be developed with schools, the voluntary sector and town and parish councils.

Connexions will gradually be reduced from the start of 2011, until the end of March, when the new team is expected to take over.