Hertfordshire County Council prepares to slash around 400 jobs by the end of the year

Hertfordshire County Council is preparing to slash around 400 jobs by the end of the year – as part of a review designed to cut running costs by more than £16m a year.

The proposals – identified as part of the authority’s “organisational resourcing programme” – include up to 242 redundancies and removing 150 vacant posts. However, the redesign of services also includes plans for 99 new roles.

Overall, it has been estimated the proposed staffing changes could result in annual savings of around £12.3m, with further efficiencies of £2.47m also identified.

On Monday (July 29) the proposals will be presented to a meeting of the county council’s employment committee. Members will be asked to agree on a process that could see the changes implemented by the end of the year.

Council chiefs previously said they would avoid compulsory redundancies “wherever possible”. However, a report published for the meeting says it is “inevitable” that involuntary redundancies will be required.

To deliver a balanced budget in 2024-25, the council must make £46m of savings. The report warns that “unprecedented steps are required to maintain and improve services while continuing to balance the books”.

Members are told: “The council must take proactive measures now to make sure the organisation is set up financially and operationally for the long term. Change is now very much a way of life in local government.”

The plans result from an “organisational resourcing programme” reviewing council staffing technology and buildings since January. Planned changes would consolidate similar functions within the council and make structures and delivery more consistent.

The report says as well as achieving “significant savings”, the modernisation will make the organisation “even more efficient, effective and affordable”. A new structure will remove duplication of roles across the council, with clear accountabilities

According to the report, up to 120.8 posts could be made redundant in adult care services with a further 26.9 vacant posts removed, alongside the creation of 60 new roles. These changes would result in potential annual savings to the council of just over £4m.

Around £3.8m potential savings are highlighted from the removal of 50.3 vacant posts and 52.7 occupied posts in the resources directorate, where 5.9 new roles would be created.

And in children’s services, there are plans for the equivalent of 37.7 occupied posts and 21.5 vacant posts to be removed – alongside 20 new roles – resulting in savings of around £1.9m.

Elsewhere, staffing changes to growth and environment – including the removal of 5.4 occupied roles, 11 vacant roles and the creation of 8.6 new roles – are set to save almost £497,000.

In community protection, savings of £528,000 are set to result from the removal of 18.2 roles – two of which are vacant – and the creation of five new roles.

Further efficiencies of £568,000 in children’s services, £899,000 in growth and environment and just over £1m in resources have also been identified.

These efficiencies are said to be “mainly workforce related” but they are not detailed in the report.

Consultation on the plans is set to run from August to December, with implementation planned from December onwards.

In an earlier drive to reduce costs, the council has moved the vast majority of staff from its landmark headquarters at County Hall in Hertford.

It has already implemented a recruitment prioritisation policy, freezing recruitment to all but essential roles.

The latest report highlights £1.4m savings have been achieved by reducing the council’s project management office and in the allocation for training activities.