HUNDREDS of job losses across Exeter will have a knock-on effect on services across the city, councillors have been warned.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Exeter have both announced major redundancy programmes which they say are being driven by budget issues.

The NHS trust says it needs to save around £80 million this year just to break even, and says it aims to cut up to 400 staff across Exeter, East Devon and North Devon. It has been reported that more than 500 health workers have applied for voluntary redundancy.

At the university there are plans to cut around 150 academic roles, placing more than 500 staff at risk.

Most of the positions at risk are within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences and the reasons given include rising costs, a decline in income from tuition fees and a drop in international student demand.

The Exeter branch of the University and College Union has declared a trade dispute and passed a vote of no confidence in senior management. The union, which represents academics, lecturers and researchers, has also threatened strike action.

Leading writers and broadcasters are among people to have backed the campaign to save jobs at the university, and more than 21,000 people have signed a petition against the proposed redundancies.

The prospect of widespread job losses across the city prompted two motions to be put forward at a full meeting of Exeter City Council.

The Lib Dem motion called for “clear and constructive dialogue with both organisations and meaningful consultation to ensure the voices of key stakeholders including students, staff, and health service partners are properly heard”.

However, the Green Party motion calling on the council’s leadership to report on the potential economic implications of the job cuts was not supported.