PURBECK council staff have been voted an improvement in their redundancy packages.

It will put them on the same footing as other councils in the county – subject to final agreement by a full council meeting.

Unison has been pressing for the improvement after discovering that Purbeck staff are on 1.5 times salary calculator when it comes to redundancy – compared to 1.75 times in other Dorset authorities.

The move comes as the county prepares for a new unitary council in April 2019. At that time the existing borough and district councils will cease to exist.

Councillors were told that it was unlikely that redundancies would be taking place at the time – although Purbeck chief executive Steve Mackenzie said that it was “a certainty” that his job would go.

HR manager Christine Dewey said that when an employee leaves Purbeck District Council on the grounds of redundancy, her officers use a statutory calculation that is based on actual weekly pay, age and length of service, up to 20 years.

But she admitted that unlike Weymouth and Portland, West, North or East Dorset councils which apply an additional multiplier of 1.75, Purbeck has just the statutory calculation meaning their final payment is significantly lower.

Mrs Dewey added: “Harmonisation of redundancy payments with the other district and borough councils affected by local government reorganisation would mean that employees of Purbeck District Council will have the same entitlements as those of its partners when they transfer to the new organisation.

“This will address the union’s concern to protect the council’s staff from potential unfair selection at some point in the future."

Policy group chairman Cllr Gary Suttle said: “We can’t at this stage work out whether or not there will be any redundancies but I don’t believe there will be either in year one, or year two, after the change to the new unitary in April next year. Unless we agree this change, which we should, it could put our employees at a significant disadvantage.”

Added Cllr Bill Pipe: “This puts our staff on a level playing field. Our staff deserve it.”

When the new council does come into being staff doing similar jobs are likely to receive differing amounts of pay until each is assessed and a harmonisation takes place – something which could take an estimated two or three years to achieve.