Reykjavik council meets behind closed doors to discuss cuts and layoffs

Reykjavik City Council began a closed meeting at City Hall at 8 a.m. on Tuesday to discuss efficiency measures and possible layoffs, mbl.is reported. RÚV was the first to report on the meeting, whose subject is confidential.

City Council usually meets twice a month, on Tuesdays at noon, and its meetings are open to the public unless it decides otherwise. Elected representatives contacted by reporters declined to discuss the meeting, and city officials could not be reached.

In August, the city laid off 86 employees in its welfare and education and leisure departments. More than 50 people were offered new jobs.

Björg Magnúsdóttir, president of the City Council, said in August that further efficiency measures were planned. She said the city intended to examine every part of its operations. The city’s efficiency group has a two-year mandate.

Björg said the aim was to leave frontline services untouched and focus on central administration. The goal, she said, was to make the city’s finances sustainable, reduce its debt and lower its annual interest and financing costs.

City councillors arrived at the meeting one by one before 8 a.m.