Northamptonshire county budget backs 900 job cuts

Proposals to cut 900 jobs at Northamptonshire County Council as part of a £69m package of budget savings have been agreed by councillors.

The Conservative-controlled council gave its backing to set a £1bn budget.

The budget includes a £14m cut to children's services and a £15m cut to adult services, but the council is pledging to protect frontline services.

The council has reprieved eight libraries - threatened with closure - after public opposition.

Council officers are also planning to save millions of pounds through sharing services with Cambridgeshire County Council and reviewing the number of senior managers.

The council says it hopes a large number of job cuts can be achieved through voluntary redundancies.

Excluding teaching staff, the council at present employs about 5,500 people.