Northumberland CC has denied claims it plans to make 3,000 job cuts as part of efficiency savings. A county council spokeswoman said: ‘The financial situation facing Northumberland is not unique: all councils across the country must make major savings over the next two to three years. ‘Efficiency savings may well have an impact on staff numbers, but we have not and cannot put a figure on any reduction in employees until the staffing structure for the new council is agreed. ‘We promise to keep any reduction to a minimum and protect frontline services to residents. ‘Recent media speculation of up to 3,000 redundancies is quite simply incorrect and without base.'