A RADICAL revamp of Cheshire County Council is being carried out as the Government prepares to restructure local government.
County council executive Jeremy Taylor explained that 'Transforming Cheshire' was being carried out with the possible introduction of unitary authorities in mind.
'This would have had to happen anyway but it would be dishonest to say we hadn't considered it,' he said.
'We have to be ready if it happens and we will be in a good position to make a bid as part of what will emerge.'
The Government's secretary for local government and communities Ruth Kelly is preparing to release a White Paper in October paving the way for council shake ups.
Mr Taylor added: 'The public are not going to put up with the duplication of services for that much longer.'
The council are planning to emerge from the four year review with a reduced workforce and Mr Taylor was unable to rule out compulsory redundancies but suggested that jobs in frontline services would be protected.
He said: 'It would be ridiculous to say there wouldn't be any but I'm confident there would be very, very few.'
However, Keith Bradley, regional officer for Unison, said: 'Transforming Cheshire means cuts and redundancies.
'I'm concerned about the pressure that is being placed on county council staff and I believe that the three parties are being supportive of Transforming Cheshire without a real understanding of what's going on.'
