THE threat of compulsory redundancies has been lifted from Hyndburn Council workforce.

But staffing cuts will still hit the authority with the loss of 31 administrative and managerial posts.

The cash-strapped council has been forced to make cuts because of reductions in government funding over recent years.

Chief executive Mike Chambers said savings of £630,000 had been achieved through a combination of voluntary redundancy, early retirement, deletion of vacant posts and structural change.

He said: "The number of early retirement and voluntary redundancy applications together with restructuring has enabled the authority to avoid compulsory redundancies."

Five departments have been reduced to four, with services redistributed across the council.

A new department of regeneration will operate alongside chief executives, finance and environmental health, and operational services.

The 31 posts being shed from the 645-strong workforce will go between the end of September this year and the end of March next year.

A final period of consultation will now take place, with staff and trade unions encouraged to comment on the proposed structure which will be discussed by councillors at a policy and resources committee on August 19. Accommodation and information technology issues are now being looked at in preparation for the new structure coming in on October 1.

Mr Chambers said: "The Corporate Review has been a difficult and stressful period for all council employees, and I would like to offer my thanks to all staff for their efforts in continuing to keep services running during this time.

"The final structure will enable the council to work within its reduced budget while continuing to provide high quality, effective services."

In all the exercise has enabled the council to reduce its budget by around £800,000.

Unison branch secretary John Davey said staff were pleased the threat of compulsory redundancies had been lifted but remained concerned about the effects of the cuts.

He said: "They can't expect a significantly reduced staffing level to be able to deliver the same level of service as previously.

"We are also concerned that we still have a high level of sickness absences, a significant percentage due to stress-related illness."

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