Shropshire Council staff are all being offered voluntary redundancy in a bid to cut the staff bill at the authority.
As part of its cost cutting, Shropshire has asked all departments to change the way they are funded to a ‘zero-budgeting' approach. Under the new system – which is designed to save £80m over the next three years – council managers will need to produce a business case for funding in each department, rather than being handed a set budget.
The changes will mean the council will look to reduce its workforce so all non-teaching staff can apply for voluntary redundancy. Council leader, Keith Barrow, said: 'The fact is that councils are now a very different place to work than they were five or ten years ago, and as we continue to commission more services we will need fewer and fewer staff on the payroll.
'We are absolutely committed to keeping compulsory redundancies to a minimum, and by offering everyone the chance to apply for voluntary redundancy we hope to significantly reduce our workforce without the need for compulsory redundancies.'
