SENIOR councillors have refused to name day centres facing closure by Dorset County Council in a multi-million pound cuts package, describing their identity as “a level of detail we don’t want to go into today”.

Resources chief, Cllr Spencer Flower, pledged that the locations would emerge during debate and public consultation in the weeks ahead.

But he would not say which had been earmarked for closure by a so-called star chamber at County Hall, despite a numbered proposal from the Budget Working Group in a report to go before cabinet next Wednesday (15).

He told the Echo that several less palatable options had already been discounted by the so-called star chamber approach of the Budget Working Group.

“A lot of times we simply said ‘no’. Day centres are an emotive issue. At the end of the day, we have to save £50m, but we have not been insensitive about that.

“I have a duty to do my job, and I will not shirk that,” he said.

Cllr Flower had been speaking at a media briefing held to answer questions on a report from chief executive, David Jenkins, and chief financial officer, Paul Kent.

The report outlined proposals to save between £15 and £20m in the next financial year, in addition to £10m of efficiencies already identified.

Mr Kent said that the council relied on central government for about 28 per cent of its income, and that he expected cuts to reduce it to about 18 per cent.

He said the council expected about half of the reduction to come in 2011/12.

Councillors stood by their earlier pledges to implement cuts in a way that would protect the most vulnerable in Dorset, despite proposals to close day centres, and to cut subsidised transport and hot meals for elderly and vulnerable people.

Council leader, Cllr Angus Campbell, said adult social care was a moving picture in which personal care budgets were an increasingly important factor.

He defended the decision to invest £4m in a replacement for The Beeches residential home for people with severe learning difficulties in Blandford, arguing that the council would have incurred substantial costs by housing people “out of county”.

Gloucestershire County Council has reduced the number of councillors by 10 to save £80k in basic allowances.

But Mr Campbell said Dorset County Council had no plans to reduce the number of elected members, adding that the decision to forego allowances and expenses was a choice for individual councillors.

Deputy chief executive, Elaine Taylor, said that the ratio of councillors to residents was decided in a national review held within the last six years.

She said it was not in the council’s power to change political boundaries, and said expenses claims were now published on the council’s website.

Cllr Flower said councillors deserved “kudos” for to approaching an independent review panel and asking that allowances were frozen in relation to staff pay awards.

The report contains proposals to shed 500 full-time equivalent posts.

Mrs Taylor said redundancies were only considered as a last resort, and said in a normal year the council only makes about 10 per cent of the lay-offs now under consideration.

She said policies of “vacancy management” and redeployment had previously served the council well, but warned that challenging climate for public services would make it harder for staff to find positions elsewhere.

But she ruled out a policy of voluntary redundancy – strongly desired by unions represented at County Hall – arguing that it would weaken the council’s strategic position by creating vacancies before managers knew where they were required.

Speaking outside County Hall, union leaders said proposed job cuts could ruin Christmas for at least 500 families.

Gary Pattison, branch secretary of Dorset GMB, said: “It’s horrific. It’s right at Christmas. For a lot of people, there can’t have been a worse time to come out with it.

“But we must remember that this is the starting point. We have said about 750 jobs would go and other unions have said up to 1,000, and I think both figures are viable.”

Pam Jeffries, branch secretary of Dorset Unison, echoed Mr Pattison’s concerns.

“We are talking about 500 full time equivalent positions. There will be a lot of part-time staff. That will have a huge impact on a lot of lives and a lot of families and it’s not good news.

“A lot of people going off for Christmas won’t know if they have jobs next year,” she said.

The council employs some 9,761 full-time equivalent staff, of which 5,191 work in schools. The 500 proposed job cuts represent nearly 11 per cent of the council’s non-school workforce.

Cllr Campbell said any job loss was something to be regretted.

“I think we have a really good workforce at Dorset County Council, which is why we have done as well as we have. We are only as good as the people who work for us.

“There are people who have done a job really well and who will now suffer anxiety and concern but unfortunately that’s bound to happen when 50 per cent of our costs are staff-related.

“At the other end of the scale, the only reason we exist as a council is to serve the public.”

The council’s citizen’s panel, town and parish councils, and local businesses will be consulted on the proposals until the end of the year.

Cabinet bosses will consider the proposals at a meeting next Wednesday morning (15) before they are debated by an extraordinary meeting of the full council in the afternoon.

Members of the cabinet will be asked to approved the 2011/12 budget, the council tax precept – expected to be frozen – and the medium term financial strategy at a meeting on February 2.

The full council will vote on each of the cabinet’s recommendations on February 17.