Redundancy rights????

I currently work for local government and have done since 2003 doing the same job .I originally worked for crewe and nantwich borough council which changed to cheshire east council in march 2010. I was not given a new contract which other workers had when the council changed . I queried this and I was told that my position did not exist and therefore I was told my post was being made redundant and was put on the redeployment register of which there have been no posts offered to me . l was given an original verbal finish date of dec 31 which was then extended in writing to 31 jan 2011. My manager has now said that I may have another month of employment . Can they change the finish date after they have already given me written date . I need to know what I am legally entitled to as I am now applying for jobs and I have to arrange child care and I think the council are trying to get out of paying me my redundancy by extending my end date and forcing me to leave.

Yes, they can indeed change the dates right up to the last minute. As I have explained several times to people - you can't make your employer make you redundant!

Surely though I have some rights , say for example the company said I was being made redundant and finalised payment etc and it was all in writing and I then found a job starting a week after my employment finished . If my original employer then extended my finish date I could then not start my new job so where would I be then ?????

You would have had to serve counter notice. The primary purpose of employment law - regardless of the fact it may not always seem this way - if to keep people in employment, not to loose them their jobs. So if the employer extends the period of employment this is permitted.