Council cuts threaten 400 jobs

Up to 400 jobs are under threat at Buckinghamshire county council as the council aims to reduce spending by £22m a year by March 2012.

This could mean the loss of nearly 400 full-time equivalent staff posts, a council spokeswoman said.

It is hoped these posts will be lost mainly through natural wastage or redeployment but frontline staff jobs will be protected, she said.

The reductions come on top of the 104 posts to be lost next year.

More savings are to be achieved by selling or leasing £6m worth of property.

...the hope is that many of the 400 posts will be lost through natural wastage or redeployment. Council leader David Shakespeare

Council leader David Shakespeare said: "This radical overhaul in the way we work is vital to ensuring we can maintain and improve our frontline services in the face of growing demand and decreasing budgets.

"Our overriding aims have always been to provide excellent services which are value for money and mean lower council tax increases for our residents.

"These are trying times for our thousands of hard-working and dedicated staff who, despite facing uncertainty and change, continue to give excellent service.

"We currently have about 60 staff vacancies a month and the hope is that many of the 400 posts will be lost through natural wastage or redeployment.

"Meanwhile an employee helpline and other measures have been put in place to support staff."