Jobs are in jeopardy at Telford & Wrekin Council under plans to dramatically shake-up the way the authority is structured, it was revealed today.

Talks are already under way and council bosses say they cannot predict if there will be redundancies.

The restructuring would be a first for the Midlands, with Leicester, Wigan and Westminster Councils being the only other authorities in the country to be run along the same proposed new lines.

Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman Nigel Newman said major changes had been forced on the authority because it had less cash coming in at a time when there was a growing demand on services.

He said it was believed the changes would streamline operations and bolster service responses, adding: “The council wants to focus greater attention on its priorities and to do away with its current structure based around four portfolios, which oversee services.”

The council is also looking at ways of sharing services and working more closely with both Shropshire Council and other authorities.

Council chief executive Victor Brownlees said: “Our plans go much further than a simple restructuring, they aim to change, for the better, the way we operate and our responsiveness to the people we serve. We are moving quickly and decisively to ensure that every pound we have is well spent.”

Jonathan Sedgebeer, branch secretary of the union Telford Unison, which has around 2,000 members at the council, said: “If the council wants to potentially save £5million next year that really can’t be done without some redundancies and that will lead to conflict. We want to negotiate and travel the path with the council to benefit our members.”