SAVINGS PLANS UNVEILED BY COUNCIL

Plans to save more than £1 million each year by reducing staff numbers have been announced by Thanet District Council.

The move comes as the council prepares to deal with cuts from central government. These are likely to see the council’s income from the government reduced by at least a quarter over the next four years.

The plans are now out for consultation with staff and will see a reduction of around a quarter in senior management posts, together with extensive changes to the way council departments are structured.

Council Leader Cllr. Bob Bayford said: “In the current economic climate, the council is going to have to make savings. Although we don’t have the full details of the settlement from the government yet, we already know that over the next four years, we’re going to be managing with the equivalent of just three year’s money. We have to make changes now and, considering that half of our costs go on the council’s wage bills, we need to look at our current structures and ways of making those leaner. We have to ensure that the council is in the strongest possible position it can be going forward. That means having a team of dedicated staff who can work more flexibly in the future. We’re trying to protect front line workers wherever possible, so we are concentrating on reducing our management costs.”

The restructure plans are part of the savings that the council will need to make. Although no details have yet been announced of the settlement from central government, it’s thought the council may have to find cuts of as much as 16% in 2011/12. This could mean the council may need to make savings of up to £3.4 million. The remaining savings will be decided on, once the level of the council’s grant is known. This is expected to be announced in early December.