Jobs set to be lost at authority

Jobs are set to be lost at a council in Shropshire following proposals to help tackle "reduced income and growing service demand".

Telford and Wrekin Council said it could not say how many jobs would go.

The authority said it was starting a consultation involving council workers on changes which would include a new structure from next April.

It said councils faced "stark choices" about how they deliver their services "in this tough financial climate".

Chief executive Victor Brownlees said where posts were lost it would be working "very closely" with staff and unions to minimise the impact through redeployment and limiting recruitment.

'Smaller organisation'

The authority said it wanted to do away with its current structure based around four portfolios, which oversee services.

Asked how many jobs would go, Mr Brownlees said: "We cannot say at this stage as this is one of the issues that will be decided through the consultation process.

"However it is clear that, at the end of this process, by centralising certain services we will emerge as a smaller organisation, even more focussed on the priorities that it has to deliver for the community.

"The purpose of the consultation is to shape how we achieve this."

Council leader Andrew Eade said the authority had to find "further ways of doing more, very often with less".

He said: "These changes will allow us to focus doing so and protecting as far as possible the frontline services.

"We are ultimately judged by what our residents think of us and the services and value we provide and these changes will help to create an even more effective and efficient organisation."