WREXHAM County Borough Council is preparing for possible job cuts.

Anticipations of a poor financial settlement from the Welsh Assembly mean chief finance officer Mark Owen has had to suggest measures which could mean some council staff losing their jobs.

In a report presented to the Executive Board, he proposes that catering in the county's leisure centres be franchised to the private sector, a move which could place 17 catering staff jobs in jeopardy.

He also suggests adjustments to catering staff in secondary schools and individual posts, both full and part-time, throughout the council.

The measures are not final and have not yet been before full council, after financial planning was thrown into limbo by Assembly Members' rejection of the minority Government's budget.

'The figures I have put before you don't make good reading,' said Mr Owen.

'However, if we can make significant savings between now and February these can be changed.

'The situation is changing constantly and this is just a snapshot of the measures I believe we will have to take if the settlement is as bad as it could be.

'I am still hoping the settlement will surprise us in a good way but we have to prepare for the possibility that we have to cut services and review some posts as a result.'

Fears over cuts in education were allayed as Mr Owen's report stated schools would not be asked to find 5% of savings within its budget as all other council departments have been.

They will need to save 0.58% of their budget, £332,000, in order to bridge a predicted shortfall in funding, but this may be altered if the council can save enough money before the final budget has to be submitted to council in February.