Council braced for freeze on jobs

Teachers would be exempt from the recruitment freeze

Devon County Council could stop taking on new recruits for two years in a bid to cut costs.

The council, which employs about 16,000, fears its £865m-a-year budget will be slashed by the government.

But it estimates it could save £20m with a freeze on all except "critical" jobs such as teaching and social work.

Heather Barnes, executive director of corporate resources, said only "radical thinking" could avoid large-scale redundancies.

Ms Barnes will tell the cabinet on 3 November that the council should review sick pay entitlement and mileage rates "to bring it into line with other employers".

'Worst economic depression'

Staff should also be "offered the opportunity" to reduce their hours, take unpaid holidays or work at home.

She will also say similar jobs could be given the same job description "to increase flexibility".

A "key priority" should be the re-skilling and transfer of staff.

She said: "It is essential we focus on the extraordinary circumstances of the current and future public spending environment and the importance of thinking radically to avoid large scale redundancies."

Council leader John Hart called it a "compassionate, cost-cutting proposal".

He said: "We all know we have been suffering the world's worst economic depression for 70 years.

"We are not out of the woods yet and, whoever wins the next general election, will have to make severe cuts in public spending.

"Local government will not escape those cuts and we have to be ready for them when they come."