Up to 15 senior Devon County Council posts to be cut

Mr Hart said everything possible would be done to protect frontline services

Up to 15 senior managers are to lose their jobs at Devon County Council in a bid to save money.

The number of directors will be halved from four to two, while 50% of managers at the next level down will lose their jobs by September.

Council leader John Hart said it was a radical move to streamline the Conservative-led council.

The authority said it has been faced with a 27% cut in its financial support from central government.

The county's four existing directorates will be replaced with two strategic directors, who will manage individual heads of service.

The strategic director for people will have responsibility for services to individuals and families, while the strategic director for place will be responsible for services such as highways and transport, environment and economy.

"I promised the people of Devon I would streamline the county council and make it more businesslike," Mr Hart said.

In December, the authority said about 900 jobs would have to go because of government spending cuts.

Mr Hart said: "We are still working on the detail of our budget which won't be finalised until February, but I accept that these cuts are going to hurt."

Everything possible would be done to protect frontline services, he said, adding that initiatives such as reducing councillors' allowances and cutting back office spending had already been highlighted by the government.