Telford & Wrekin Council workers have been assured their hours will not be cut despite swingeing government funding cuts.

Council leader, Councillor Kuldip Singh Sahota, made the pledge at a meeting of the full council last night after being asked to give guarantees over pay and terms.

Councillor Derek White tabled a question to the meeting, asking the Labour council leader to “give an assurance that this council will not be following Shropshire Council in cutting the wages and conditions of its employees?”

Councillor Sahota said in reply that the authority had a good relationship with its staff but faced a difficult financial situation and had a restructuring programme.

He added: “We believe we are acting responsibly and negotiating pay, where it is needed, with the full involvement of the trade unions.

“We have no intention, for example, of unilaterally cutting hours for employees as others have done.”

Councillor Sahota said after the meeting Telford & Wrekin Council would not be going down the same road as neighbouring Shropshire Council and pass government cuts straight onto the workforce.

He said: “We want to work with employees and look at ways of doing things differently. We want to make this council more responsive and efficient. We are not going to say ‘this is it, take it or leave it’.”

Shropshire Council yesterday approved a 5.4 per cent pay cut for its staff.

The authority also faces having to deal with a drop in Government funding and the pay cut will be made over two years and bring about at least £7 million in savings.

The councillors heard the changes to staff terms and conditions would mean frontline services could be maintained.

Members heard the alternative to slashing pay was to look at cutting 500 jobs.

Council leader Keith Barrow stressed at yesterday’s meeting the lowest paid workers at the council would escape pay cuts.

He said a review would be held in 12 months to see if some of the cuts could be avoided.

Unions will be highlighting the plight of workers in Shropshire next Thursday as part of a national day of action which will see three of the main teaching unions strike, along with the civil service union PCS.