AROUND 1,200 jobs will go as part of "unprecedented" changes at Hampshire County Council as the authority struggles to meet a £55 million funding gap.

On top of that the council has additional budget requirements of £25m to help care for the increasing elderly population, families needing support and adults with learning disabilities.

The council has outlined plans which include losing 1,200 full time equivalent jobs, or eight per cent of the workforce, while keeping the council tax at the current level.

The figure includes not filling some vacant positions and continuing a recruitment freeze throughout the year. Some staff have already reached agreements to go, and others are to be consulted.

Other cuts in the pipeline are a reduction in bus subsidies to little-used services, prioritisation of grant aid, improving the mobile library service, streamlining the youth support service and making adult social care support more efficient while “protecting those most in need as far as possible”.

Council leader Cllr Ken Thornber said: “We have undertaken a comprehensive review of how the council operates and all of its services and we are now embarking on a change programme that is of unprecedented scale.”