Top council jobs to go (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Top council jobs to go

PLANS to restructure staffing at Cotswold District Council, with the loss of several senior posts, have been approved by councillors.

Chief Executive Bob Austin says the cash-strapped authority needs to save money and has been looking at ways of making it more efficient.

The council currently has 17 heads of service but, under the new structure, they will be cut down to six.

One of the authority's two corporate directors will also be made redundant.

The proposals were discussed by the full council last week.

Council spokeswoman Claire McGine said: "I can confirm that full council approved the restructuring plan and the selection process will now take place at the beginning of December."

The move, which Mr Austin says will save the council £0.5 million, has been partly driven by the plans of the council's controlling Tory Group, which aims to save thousands through job cuts.

The new structure will see the merging of some departments to form just six sections: corporate planning, community services, environmental services, development, support services and customer services.

The council will also get rid of its two corporate director posts and replace them with one deputy chief executive.

Mr Austin says the £500,000 saved will go a long way towards the aim of saving a total of £1.2 million over the next five years.

Local government workers union UNISON was informed and has been holding talks with Mr Austin.

The new structure will come into force from April 1.