Shropshire Council is unlikely to avoid compulsory redundancies as it seeks to make savings of £76 million over four years, its leader has warned.

A radical transformation of the way the council operates is being carried out.

Under the programme a more flexible, multi-tasking organisation is being created, with a much greater emphasis on locality working, reflecting the needs of a particular area.

Earlier this month a meeting of the full council agreed changes to the employment terms and conditions of staff aimed at saving millions of pounds a year, though these are still the subject of consultation and negotiation with staff and the trade unions.

Plans include reducing the standard working week to 35 or 36 hours – the standard is currently 37 – and adjusting pay accordingly.

Other reductions relate to overtime, enhancements for night and weekend working, payments for call-out or standby and occupational sick pay.

Annual leave which ranges from 22 to 32 days might also be cut. It is also proposed to stop the payment of annual and six monthly salary increments for two years from April 2011 — effectively a pay freeze for many staff.

These measures will affect about a third of staff and projected savings are at least £3 million over two years.

Council leader, Keith Barrow, is cautious over the total number of posts the council will delete but thinks it will be between 900 and 1,200 over four years.

“We are a big employers and we have to be very careful about people losing their jobs and the impact this can have on the wider community,” said Councillor Barrow.

“We are doing our best to avoid compulsory redundancies but I don’t think we can avoid them.”

Councillor Barrow said he appreciated the period of change was unsettling.

But he added: “I think people generally are accepting of the fact that no change is not an option for us.

“On terms and conditions, I think people would rather work a couple of hours less a week than lose their job.”

By reducing hours the council estimates about 300 jobs can be safeguarded.

Opposition council members have warned the transformation programme is having a damaging effect on staff morale, and also on recruitment and retention.

By Dave Morris