Local government: Senior council managers' posts axed to save money

The cuts will not mean job losses as the posts are already vacant and are being deleted.

The most senior positions being removed are the roles of director of energy from waste, the head of community engagement, project director of Building Schools for the Future, and head of community and sustainable development.

Five other management posts within the community and sustainable development area are also going.

They are in addition to 7.5m of savings in the authority's budget for the current financial year previously announced by council leader Stephen Parnaby.

The savings are part of a restructuring of the council's finances as it prepares for huge public spending cuts.

Coun Parnaby said: "The cabinet has agreed to delete another head of service post and other senior posts from the council's staffing structure arising from vacancy management in the planning and economic regeneration directorate as part of an ongoing process to reduce management and staffing costs."

"This is a step in the right direction and will help achieve the financial savings I announced at full council meeting last month."

He added: "The council's senior management costs are already relatively low and we will continue to keep these under review. In 2008/09 our overall senior management costs were amongst the most cost-effective in the country – ranked 35th cheapest out of 42 unitary authorities."