Tewkesbury Borough Council job losses 'inevitable'

The chief executive of a council in Gloucestershire has said it is "inevitable" some jobs will be lost as the authority looks to restructure.

Tewkesbury Borough Council has already cut £900,000 from its £7m budget but needs to make further savings.

The review, led by Mike Dawson, aims to provide an "affordable, capable and focussed" future for the authority.

He stressed compulsory redundancies would be a "last resort" and it would try to redeploy affected staff.

Posts which are currently vacant will also be closed to keep job losses to a minimum.

'Flexible organisational'

A meeting of the council on Tuesday evening rubber-stamped the plan, which officers had been recommended to approve.

Mr Dawson said: "This review will ensure we have an affordable, capable and flexible organisational structure which focuses on the delivery of the council's priorities and services, and new national agendas, in the most effective and efficient ways.

"We'll carry on working closely with our partners, including looking to expand our public services centre at the council offices.

"[This] currently includes the police and county council services - care services for children and young people, and adult care services including associated community health services - as well as our borough council services, all under one roof."

Mr Dawson will lead the review with nine other councillors and will be supported by a human resources specialist from outside the authority.

The report, which is expected to cost £20,000 and be funded by council reserves, will be completed by November. It will be implemented by next April.